Gareth Bale spoke exclusively to SW about life after retirement. He said he was very satisfied with his career achievements and felt flattered to be mentioned alongside Best and Charlton.

Three years after retiring, the Welsh legend and five-time Champions League winner talks about stepping away from the pressure of Real Madrid, taking his children to school, how golf became his relaxation even before he hung up his boots, and how he truly feels about being named one of the greatest players in British history. From proving himself as a young player at Cardiff to participating in Euro 2016 and the World Cup and winning five Champions Leagues, Bale looks back on his career, the sacrifices along the way, and why he's in no hurry to decide what to do next.

Gareth, welcome to SW. First of all, how is your day going? Are you well?

Today has been perfect. It might have been even better if I could have spent more time outdoors, but I’m very happy. Completing the entire shoot was interesting, and I thoroughly enjoyed the process.

It’s great to sit down and chat with you. I don’t know whether you’ve ever searched for your name, but I certainly did before today’s interview. A lot comes up about your achievements, including Champions League and league titles. One phrase that often appears is “the greatest footballer in British history.” Some people compare you with George Best and Bobby Charlton. What does it mean to you to be mentioned in such company?

Well, I think it’s quite surreal. Of course, it makes me feel flattered, but I’ve always believed that such evaluations should be made by others, not by me.

After retiring, do you look back on your career and reflect on what you've accomplished?

Well, I’m very satisfied with everything I’ve achieved in my life. If someone had told me, before I became a professional footballer, that I would achieve all this, I probably wouldn’t have believed them.

Being able to achieve all this is truly incredible. Now I can look back, enjoy the experience, and savor those wonderful memories.

Of course, your career has always been in the public eye, and you've been at the top of the Sport. But not many people probably truly know Gareth Bale. In your own words, what kind of person are you? Who is Gareth Bale?

I think that’s actually the lifestyle I’ve always wanted. I’m a relatively quiet person; I like being at home with my family. I just want to play football and then go home. So, I might seem a bit mysterious, but I’m just an ordinary person—perhaps a bit boring, easily satisfied, and simply enjoying life now.

What is your life like now that you're out of the spotlight?

Yes, I still enjoy it. Now that I no longer have the pressure of performing every week in front of a global audience, the pressure is significantly lower. It feels good to escape that pressure for a while, and I’m enjoying my current life and being able to spend more time with my wife and children.

Just being a father and a husband, and doing the simple things I might not have had time for before. For example, watching my son play football on weekends and taking my daughters to school—these things are wonderful now. When you're playing football, you're always recovering, preparing for games, and traveling, so those ordinary moments in life are easily missed. Now, being able to stay at home, be a father and a good husband, and enjoy family life feels great.

Taking the kids to school brings another kind of pressure: getting them there on time. Mornings can be tough sometimes.

I saw you mention that after deciding to retire, you wanted to spend a few years with your family. How special was that experience for you?

It was truly wonderful. As I just said, I couldn't often take the kids to school before. Now I can spend time with them and watch them grow up. My eldest daughter is 13 now; she was only 10 months old when we moved to Madrid. Her childhood went by so quickly, and I always felt like I missed out on so much—birthday parties, taking them to school and going to the park together.

It’s very important to me to be able to spend quality time with my children after retiring. Compared with being a somewhat absent father because of my career, I can now be with them more. I can also spend more time with my wife. She has been exceptional throughout my career, supporting everything I do, serving as the pillar of the family and taking on every responsibility. Now I can help out more at home, and I really enjoy spending time with my family.

What does a typical day look like for you now?

I now wake up a little earlier than before to help with the morning routine, such as getting the kids up and ready for school. Overall, though, every day is a little different. I do have some work commitments, of course.

After the kids go to school, my wife and I have more time to spend together. We also have our own hobbies—I enjoy playing and practising golf. On a day like today, it’s lovely to go out and play with friends. I also pursue other interests, and now I have more time to dedicate to them. Although I may have more free time, I’m doing all sorts of things every day, so I actually feel busier than before. However, I still enjoy my current lifestyle.

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