Throughout his career, Gareth Bale has not only left his mark on every team he’s been a part of, but he’s also shared locker rooms and memorable moments with iconic soccer figures.
For this reason, when he had to put together an ideal team with former teammates, most of his picks were colleagues from Tottenham Hotspur and Real Madrid.
Bale’s ideal XI
Gareth Bale established himself as one of the most influential footballers of his generation, particularly excelling at Real Madrid between 2013 and 2022. During his time at the club, he amassed an impressive trophy haul that includes 5 Champions League titles, 3 La Liga titles, and 4 Club World Cups.
In addition to his success in Spain, Bale led the Welsh national team as their all-time leading scorer with 41 goals in 111 appearances, following a career that began at Southampton and took off at Tottenham Hotspur. Finally, the Welsh star decided to hang up his boots on January 9, 2023 at the age of 33, closing a legendary career that also included his time at Los Angeles FC.
Given his extensive experience, the Welsh star was challenged to choose his dream team from among his former teammates in an interview with Icon Series.
Bale named Thibaut Courtois as the best goalkeeper after having played 51 matches together at Real Madrid. In defense, and after having played 84 matches together at Tottenham, he chose Kyle Walker as right back. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane would be the center backs, while he chose Marcelo as left back.
The Real Madrid trio of Casemiro, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric defined an era at the Santiago Bernabéu, and, unsurprisingly, Bale included them on his team. In fact, Luka also played alongside the former forward at Tottenham for four seasons (2008-2012), being one of the players who provided the most assists to Gareth.
He then named Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo on the left, a choice that comes as no surprise to Real Madrid fans, as the “BBC” trio took the team to the highest level, winning a total of 13 titles, including the historic three consecutive Champions League titles in 2016, 2017, and 2018. They had previously won one in 2014.
Finally, Bale stated that if he couldn’t choose himself, he would pick Eden Hazard despite having played only 11 matches with the former Tottenham player.
Although it’s a very solid team, it divided opinions among fans; while some agreed with his selection, others pointed out notable absences such as Harry Kane, Iker Casillas, or Dani Carvajal.
However, Bale’s starting eleven not only stands out for the legendary figures it brings together but also reflects his personal perspective on talent: a mix of established stars and players who, though not always the most prominent, left a special mark on his career.
Bale’s dream team:
- Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois.
- Defenders: Kyle Walker, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, and Marcelo.
- Midfield: Luka Modri, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro.
- Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Eden Hazard or himself.
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