Gareth Bale looks back: "The pressure at Real Madrid was enormous, I don't miss football"

The World Cup is now in full swing, but for former top player Gareth Bale everything is about relaxing and enjoying. The 36-year-old Welshman, who retired from professional football in 2022, looked back on his career in detail in an interview with The Athletic. Striking: Bale appears to miss the active football life very little.

"I don't really miss it. I always knew there would be a beginning and an end, and I always prepared myself for the moment of quitting. I didn't feel like continuing just for the sake of continuing," said Bale, who ended a career at the age of 33 with stints at Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, Real Madrid - where he won the Champions League five times - and a final adventure with Los Angeles FC.

Bale also reminisced about the intense pressure in Madrid: "At Real Madrid, when you lose a match, it feels like the world is ending. I still remember my first defeat at LAFC. There I expected a wave of criticism, but the defeat was just accepted. It's a lot more family-friendly there and you can move on quicker."

Now the Welshman mainly enjoys family life, follows Real Madrid and Tottenham matches with his son, and finds peace outside the hustle and bustle of professional football. "It's nice to now just be on the sidelines as a father. Towards the end of my career, I noticed that I was becoming increasingly tired due to the constant pressure and expectations."

Bale concludes with a wise lesson: "Football brings fantastic moments, but also a lot of stress. I've had my time. Now it's time for new energy."