Gareth Bale should be an inspiration to every footballer in Britain, according to the national manager still counting his blessings.
Wales boss Chris Coleman is not afraid to admit he is a lucky man in having the Real Madrid superstar in his ranks as he starts out towards the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Every day when Coleman wakes up he thanks the Lord Bale is Welsh.
“We are very lucky to have a player of Gareth’s ilk,” says Coleman, who will try to rekindle the Bale-inspired magical Welsh adventure of the Euros when they host Moldova on Monday night.
“He is a top, top player and we are so, so fortunate.
“For us to have a Welsh boy, a Cardiff boy, playing for Real Madrid is fantastic – particularly as he is now one of their most important players. He is now a huge part of their future success.”
In a summer of blazing glory, Bale became a Champions League winner in May for the second time, scored three goals as Wales roared to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, was runner-up to Cristiano Ronaldo as European Footballer of the Year, and then started this season’s La Liga campaign with two goals in Madrid’s opening victory over Sociedad.
In between times, he helped sell Wales to the world with almost daily solo press conferences in France, got under Roy Hodgson’s skin by damning England with the faintest of praise, and got engaged to long-term girlfriend Emma Rhys-Jones on a private island.
No wonder Coleman feels Bale should be the red dragon blueprint for every aspiring young climber at whatever rung in the Premier League.
“Other players could look at Gareth and learn so much. Young players probably look at Gareth and they only see the finished article, doing his stuff on TV in Madrid. But he didn’t just suddenly arrive at that level.
“It has taken him a long time to get to the very top and the reason he has been able to stay there now is because of his application. He gives so much to his career and he works so incredibly hard.
“He has also made a lot of sacrifices. Gareth is the best example of all that I could give to anyone. He should be an inspiration to every footballer in Britain.
“He trains hard, he looks after himself off the pitch, he is healthy, and on or off the field he is always trying to do things better. That is why he is where he is. It’s not a fluke. It didn’t happen by accident.”
Even though Ronaldo, 31, pipped Bale, 27, to both the player award and the final of the Euros, Coleman believes the wheel is turning in Spain and that it is the Welshman who is now considered the player most critical to keeping Madrid ahead of the rest in Europe.
“He is going to become a massive player for Madrid and I think they know that now. He has already won the Champions League with them in two out of the last three years.
“That is just an incredible achievement. To win it once is outstanding, but to do it twice in three years is exceptional.
“Not many British players make the move abroad these days. It is much more about European players moving the other way.
“But Gareth has made a success of it and wants to now do more and be more. His mentality is outstanding. Not only is he a winner, he is someone who always wants to get better.”
Bale will win his 62nd cap tomorrow and be looking to add to his tally of 22 international goals.
The next highest scorer in the Wales squad is Sam Vokes with seven and it is the Burnley striker who is likely to partner Bale up front in preference to Hal Robson-Kanu.
Despite his Euro heroics against Belgium, Robson-Kanu had been without a club since returning from the tournament until he joined West Bromwich Albion this week.
