It's been over two years since, arguably, Wales' greatest ever footballer - Gareth Bale - hung up his boots.
Before retiring, at the tender age of 33, the Cardiff-born sensation earned 111 caps for his beloved Wales, scoring a record 41 goals and also leading them to three major tournaments - including their first World Cup in 64 years.
On the club front, he kick-started his career at Southampton before becoming a key player at Tottenham and also securing a then-world record £85million transfer to Real Madrid.
During his stint in Spain, he claimed five Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles before wrapping up his career with an MLS Cup title with Los Angeles FC.
These victories ensured Bale retired as one of the most-decorated players of the modern era, boasting 18 trophies, while leaving an impressive legacy for those in Wales and beyond to aspire to.
Although he's no longer on the pitch, Bale hasn't lost his superstar status - spending much of his early retirement years jet-setting on dream holidays and attending top events alongside sporting and actual royalty, such as Novak Djokovic, Steph Curry and Prince William.
However, it hasn't all been leisure and relaxation for the Welshman, who remains in remarkable shape two years post-retirement, and has kept himself busy with various business ventures.
football.london brings you everything you need to know about Bale's incredible new life off the pitch;
Dream new life
Bale has been enjoying life off the pitch with his wife and children. He tied the knot with his childhood love, Emma Rhys-Jones, in 2019.
The couple already had three children - Alba, Nava and Axel - before welcoming their fourth child, Xander, in 2021.
Since hanging up his boots, Bale has shared numerous snaps of family time, jet-setting on holidays and creating cherished memories with his children. The family trips to Abu Dhabi, Lapland and the United States have all been documented on social media.
The Welshman has also graced several high-profile events, sitting front row at global fashion shows and adding to his modelling portfolio with Burberry.
He's rubbed shoulders with countless celebrities - snapping photos with Djokovic at Wimbledon, gaming with F1 star Lando Norris and playing golf with Rory McIlroy.
Even at home, Bale leads an enviable lifestyle. He's built a custom three-hole golf course in the garden of his £4m-valued mansion in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The mini-course features replicas of three of the world's most famous holes; comprising the 17th at Sawgrass, the 'postage stamp' 8th at Royal Troon and the 12th at Augusta National.
Net worth
Two years post-retirement, Bale's net worth is estimated to be a staggering £120m. The ex-Real Madrid star, who pocketed a staggering £600,000-per-week - while playing in Spain's capital - wasn't just content with his on-pitch earnings; he's made shrewd business decisions to secure his financial future.
Bale scored off the pitch when he opened 'Elevens' bar in Cardiff back in 2017 - a move that proved to be the start of a winning streak in the hospitality game. Embracing his passion for golf, he went on to launch Par 59 on Cardiff's lively St Mary Street, five years later, and replicated its success by opening another Par 59 in Bristol.
Despite not drinking himself, Bale showed business acumen with his 'significant investment' in Penderyn Distillery, becoming a minority shareholder. His business interests don't stop there; he's also teed up an investment in the TGL golf league, helmed by Tiger Woods and McIlroy.
Besides his ventures, Bale has enjoyed lucrative endorsement deals with global giants including Adidas, Playstation, and BMW throughout his illustrious career.
After hanging up his boots, speculation swirled around Bale possibly purchasing a football club. Former Wales assistant manager, Osian Roberts, shared with The Athletic how Bale's teammates nudged him towards buying Merthyr Town FC.
"They joked during the Euros that they wanted Gareth to buy a Welsh club lower down," Roberts said. "It was Merthyr (who play in the seventh tier of the English league system), actually.
"Everyone would sign for him and take them all the way through the pyramid to the Premier League so they could all play together every week. That's how close they were - they didn't want to just do it in the international breaks, they wanted to be together every day of the week."
Physique and sporting goals
The Tottenham icon recently flaunted his athletic build on Instagram during a getaway in Abu Dhabi, showcasing his chiselled abs and toned body - while enjoying some beach time. Despite hanging up his boots over two years ago, it's clear Bale has maintained a remarkable level of fitness, evidenced by his muscular frame and six-pack.
Off the pitch, Bale's passion for golf is no secret - and he's been seen sharpening his skills on the greens with an impressive handicap of two. Golf star McIlroy, who played with Bale at a recent event, commended his abilities, suggesting Bale has the potential to achieve a scratch handicap.
"He has the potential to get to scratch [a handicap of zero], the way he hits the ball he could be a scratch player, but he's only played for the last few years," McIlroy remarked.
Just after hanging up his boots, Bale wowed on the golf course by sinking his first hole-in-one during an outing in California, all caught on film by a buddy. A clip shared on his Instagram shows him gearing up for a swing when his pal suggests: "Hole-in-one time, never had one. This is the hole to do it."
The exhilaration was palpable when Bale and his group saw the ball drop into the cup from 200 yards out, in turn prompting his friend to celebrate saying: "He doesn't just do bicycle kicks" - a nod to Bale's iconic 2018 Champions League final goal.
In recent times, Bale took on the role of ambassador for the Underrated Golf European Tour, a concept by NBA legend Curry, while he has also been actively involved with Adidas creating golf content.
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