Former Wales international Jonny Williams has insisted Gareth Bale is the greatest British footballer of all time, placing him above Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney. Williams also believes Bale does not receive the credit he deserves because he is Welsh.
Bale's Career Achievements
Bale is Wales' all-time top scorer with 41 goals in 111 appearances and won 16 major trophies during his club career, including five Champions League titles with Real Madrid. He started at Southampton before a £5 million move to Tottenham in 2007, where he was converted from left-back to winger by Harry Redknapp.
His breakthrough included a hat-trick at the San Siro against Inter Milan and a memorable brace against Lyon. After scoring 49 goals and providing 36 assists in 127 matches for Spurs, he moved to Real Madrid for a then-world-record £85 million in 2013.
International Success and Retirement
At Real Madrid, Bale scored 81 goals in 176 La Liga appearances, winning the title three times, and won the Champions League five times. He ended his career at LAFC in 2022 after nine years in Spain. For Wales, he guided the nation to three major tournaments, including the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, before retiring in 2023.
Williams told Wales Online: "You run out of words to describe him, not just as a player, as a person. Just an incredible player. He was almost playing a different sport at times, he was that much better than everyone else."
Williams' Verdict on Bale vs Rooney
Williams added: "I don't think he probably gets the credit he probably deserves. I think still, had he been an Englishman or something, I'm sure he would have got a lot higher praise." He said Bale was "one of the most humble guys I've shared a training room with" and "one of the best players in the game".
When asked if Bale is the best British player ever, Williams said: "Yeah, I think, if not, in terms of British players, for sure, I think he's up there with Rooney. Rooney might be one that comes close. I'm sure Harry Kane, I'm sure Bellingham in years to come will be in the competition. I think, for what he's achieved in terms of winning Champions Leagues and what he did for Wales, I'd put him as the number one British player."
Williams' Own Career
Williams, now 32, made 33 caps for Wales, scoring twice, and has totalled 400 club appearances. He came through Crystal Palace's academy, had spells at Charlton, Cardiff, Swindon, and Gillingham, and is currently a free agent training with the PFA pre-season camp. He believes he can still play at League One level, saying: "I still feel good enough to play at a League One level. It's just getting that opportunity and having a manager that believes in you."
