Gareth Bale: How Wales superstar rose from timid Whitchurch schoolboy to global phenomenon at Real Madrid

HE was the gawky, slightly awkward teenager from just outside Cardiff.

The little boy who, unusually, dreamed of pulling on the white shirt of Real Madrid.

But Gareth Bale is now the emblem of his nation, the huge obstacle standing between England and a first Euro 2016 win on Thursday.

From Southampton to Tottenham, then on to Real Madrid, wearing the Red Dragon with huge pride has always mattered just as much to the £86million world’s most expensive player.

In Lens, England know they simply cannot let Bale take over and run the game or they will be staring into the Euro 2016 abyss.

SunSport analyses what has made the timid schoolboy from Whitchurch a global footballing phenomenon . . .

UNFAZED BY FAME
Despite his multi-million-pound salary and worldwide fame, Gareth Bale is happiest at home with partner Emma and their two daughters, Alba, 3, and newborn Nava.

The Welsh wizard is a magnet for sponsors and he will be powered during the Euros by adidas, wearing X16+ PURECHAOS boots, which utilise chrome treatment and new innovation designs to harness speed.

NATURAL ATHLETE
Bale was clocked running 100 metres in 11.4 seconds when he was 14 but he was also capable of running 1500m in just 4min 8sec.

He also triple-jumped 12.78m aged 15 — putting him in the top 50 of under-17s in the country in 2005.

Bale is known for his speed and turn of pace and also for his stamina.

Jamie Redknapp said: “Gareth Bale literally has three lungs.”

RELENTLESS WORK ETHIC
Gym monster Bale works out for up to three hours every day.

His High Intensity Interval Training includes jumping sessions for power and 15-second sprint intervals. It means longer work sessions and shorter rest periods.

Non-drinker Bale could be the poster boy for the Temperance Society.

He explained: “I don’t avoid drinking because I worry it’s going to hurt me or anything like that. I just don’t like the taste. That’s simply how it is.”

POWER PACKED
Wales head of performance, Dr Ryland Morgans, who has worked with Bale, explained: “Almost 20 years ago, everyone in football commented on the size of Roberto Carlos’ thighs. Now, just check out Gareth’s calf muscles . . . they are massive!”

LOVE FOR THE GAME
Bale has trademarked his famous “heart” celebration and uncle Chris Pike reckons his love of the game makes him the player he is.

He said: “He’s not motivated by money, he’s not motivated by fame; he’s just motivated by football and he loves it.”

Former Wales midfielder Robbie Savage is convinced Bale has an aura.

He said: “Gareth is the best player in the group. Stardust. Stop him and you stop Wales.”

AMAZING SELF BELIEF
Bale famously was a “Jonah” when he joined Spurs, failing to be on the winning side in his first 24 Premier League appearances — but he never doubted himself.

Wales rugby skipper Sam Warburton was a classmate of Bale’s at Whitchurch High School.

Warburton recalled: “You could tell he was going to be a professional from year seven. He was just exceptional, outstanding, the best footballer I’ve ever seen.”

THE BALE EFFECT

- The Welsh wizard had a hand in nine of his country’s 11 goals (7 goals, 2 assists) in qualifiers (82 per cent) — the highest rate of any players at Euro 2016.

- Wales would have finished third in their group and outside an automatic qualification place for Euro 2016 without his seven goals — seven points worse off.

- Since Chris Coleman took charge of Wales in February 2012, his star man Bale has scored 13 of their 21 goals — a whopping 45 per cent. Bale has also scored half of Wales’ last 16 goals.

- The former Tottenham star has bagged 19 goals in 23 games for Real Madrid in La Liga last season (0.83 per game) — and none of them penalties.

- Last Saturday against Slovakia, the 26-year old became the first British player to score a direct free-kick in a European Championship finals tournament game.