Gareth Frank Bale, pro footballer for the Welsh pro and national teams, was born on July 16, 1989 in Cardiff, Wales.

The younger of two children, Bale attended primary school at Whitchurch. He started playing football as a very early age – nine, to be precise – with his first club, Cardiff Civil Service football. He was noted even then for his excellent poise and control with his left foot. His playing was brought to the attention of Southampton, a professional team, during one of Bale’s first tournaments.

Bale was moved to Whitchurch High School where he continued to play football, along with rugby and hockey. He was also a superior distance runner and all-around good athlete. This led his gym coach to forcing Bale to adopt certain restrictions when playing sports as he was simply too good for the other students to keep up. He trained at this time with Southampton’s satellite academy, located in Bath, polishing his skills. Word of a scholarship for the boy with Southampton began.

At age 16 he helped his school win the Under-18 tournament at the Cardiff & Vale Senior Cup. He graduated in 2005 with exceptional scores in Physical Education and a special award for his dedication to his sport.

In 2006 Bale debuted with the senior Welsh Squad, filling in for another player. He was the youngest player ever to play on the team. They would win 2 to 1 against Trinidad and Tobago. Later that year he was also the youngest player ever to score for the Welsh national team during a Euro 2008 qualification match. He would go on to score another goal for the team during a 3 to 0 win against San Marino in 2007.

After some initial problems with Bale’s height (he’s taller than most footballers), Southampton debuted with the Saints in 2006, the second youngest player to play for them after Theo Walcott. His team would win the match. He scored his first league goal against Derby County in the same year, though the match ended with a draw. By the end of 2006 he had scored five goals, and was named Football League Young Player of the Year at the end of the 2007 season. His season ended in a semi-final against Derby County, where he sustained an injury and had to stop playing. Derby County would go on to win the final.

In 2007 Bale transferred to Tottenham Hotspur, signing a four year contract with the team. He scored his first goal for the team in his second appearance for the team. He has since had troubles with his ligaments, however, in his right leg. It was not his first brush with injury while playing for the team, though it was his most serious to date. This injury would see extended stays on the bench and an early end to Bale’s 2007 and 2008 season. He has shown enough promise that the team will keep him on past the 2008 season, however.

Bale has scored eight goals over a total of 57 professional games so far.