Look up Nathanael in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Nathaniel (alternate spelling: Nathanael) is a male name and surname. It comes from the Hebrew name נְתַנְאֵל/Nethan'el meaning "Gift of God"^[1][2] (from the Hebrew words nathan "Gift" + el "of God"). Nathaniel is commonly shortened to Nate, Nat, Natte, Natan, or Nathan.

People with this given name[link]

The biblical Nathanael depicted in stained glass.

• Nathanael — In the Gospel of John, normally understood as one of the Twelve Apostles; usually identified with Bartholomew of the other gospels
• Nathaniel Ayers, American musician who is the subject of the 2009 film, The Soloist
• Nathaniel Bacon, Virginia colonist who instigated Bacon's Rebellion
• Nathaniel Prentice Banks, American politician and American Civil War General
• Nathanial Bates, African-American two-term mayor of Richmond, California
• Nathaniel Beverley Tucker, American author and Virginia political activist
• Nathaniel Bowditch, American mathematician, author of the American Practical Navigator, and father of modern maritime navigation
• R. Nathaniel Dett (1882–1943), American composer and choir director
• Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (1969–2011), known as Nate Dogg, American musician
• Nathaniel Fick, former US Marine captain
• Nathanael Greene, Major General of the Continental Army in the American Revolutionary War and a major player in the Battle of Guilford Court House
• Nathaniel Hawthorne, American novelist
• Nathanael Greene Herreshoff (1848–1938), American naval architect
• Nathaniel Jarvis, Welsh footballer
• Nathaniel Miller, Canadian water polo player
• Nathaniel Stern, American artist
• Nathaniel Parker, English actor
• Nathaniel Philbrick, American writer
• Nathaniel Raymond, human rights investigator and anti-torture advocate
• Nathanial Saltonstall (circa 1639–1707), American judge
• Nathaniel Wallich (1786–1854), surgeon and botanist
• Nathaniel Weiss, American association football (soccer) player
• Nathanael West, American writer
• Nathaniel Moore, American Musician, Philosopher, One half of the blues duo Whiskey Sermon

Fictional characters[link]

• Nathaniel, protagonist in the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud
• Nathaniel in Enchanted (2007 film)
• Parson Nathaniel in Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds
• Nathaniel Fitzwilliam "Nate" Archibald in the Gossip Girl series
• Nathaniel Ayers, the title character in the 2009 film The Soloist
• Nathaniel "Natty" Bumppo, the main character in James Fenimore Cooper's novel The Last of The Mohicans
• Nathaniel "Nate" Fisher, Jr. and his father Nathaniel Fisher, Sr. in the television series Six Feet Under
• Nathaniel Garro in Warhammer 40,000
• Nathaniel "Nat" "Simey" "Benny" Goldberg in The Birthday Party
• Nathaniel Graison, wereleopard in the Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter series of novels by Laurell K. Hamilton
• Captain Nathaniel Hawk, protagonist in Pirates of the Caribbean video game
• Nathaniel Hawkins in J.L. Langley's Sci-Regency book series
• Nate River in the Death Note manga series
• Nathaniel Taggart in Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged

Animals with this name[link]

• Nathaniel (horse) Winner of the prestigious King Edward VII Stakes and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes

References[link]

1. ^ MFnames.com - Origin and Meaning of Nathaniel
2. ^ MFnames.com - Origin and Meaning of Nathanael

See also[link]

• Nathan (given name)
• All pages beginning with "Nathanael"
• All pages beginning with "Nathanial"
• All pages beginning with "Nathaniel"

This page or section lists people that share the same given name. If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change that link to point directly to the intended article.

Nathaniel Buzolic (born August 4, 1983) is an Australian actor, who was television presenter on Channel Nine's late-night program The Mint and had a regular role on the BBC soap Out of the Blue (2008). He was also a co-host of the educational show Weather Ed, on the The Weather Channel.

He is of Croatian ancestry.^[1] Buzolic attended the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) in Sydney and attended and graduated from Screenwise Acting School for Film and Television in 2004. His first break was hosting the Disney Channel's afternoon kids show, Studio Disney (2005). He has also appeared in All Saints (2003), Home and Away (2002) and an uncredited role in an episode of Water Rats (2001).^[2]

Buzolic's first leading role in a film was in Offing David (2008). Previously, he had minor roles in My Greatest Day Ever (2007) and Road Rage (2007).

In 2011, it was confirmed that he would play Kol Mikaelson in hit series The Vampire Diaries.^[3][4] He first appeared in the episode 3x13, 'Bringing Out The Dead'.

Filmography[link]

Television[link]

• Water Rats as Uncreditied role (2001)
• Home and Away as Paul Chalmers (2002)
• All Saints as Damon Lloyd (2003)
• Out Of The Blue as Paul O'Donnell (2008)
• Cops LAC as Jahrryde (2010)
• Crownies as Jesse Major (2011)
• The Vampire Diaries as Kol Mikaelson (2012-Present)

Film[link]

• S.M.S as Uncredited role
• Dirty Deeds as Uncredited Role
• My Greatest Day Ever as Coach (2007)
• Road Rage as Young Driver (2007)
• Offing David as David (2008)
• Multiple Choice as Tommy (2009)
• Needle as Ryan (2010)

Presenting[link]

• Weather Ed as Himself
• Studio Disney as Himself (2005)
• The Mint as Himself (2007)

External Links[link]

• IMDB

References[link]

This article about an Australian actor or actress is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v t e

Nathaniel Branden (born 9 April 1930) is a Canadian psychotherapist and writer known for his work in the psychology of self-esteem. A former associate and one-time romantic partner of novelist-philosopher Ayn Rand, Branden also played a prominent role in the 1960s in promoting Rand's philosophy, Objectivism. Rand and Branden split acrimoniously in 1968, after which Branden focused on developing his own psychological theory and mode of therapy.

Early life and education[link]

Nathaniel Branden was born Nathan Blumenthal in Brampton, Ontario, and grew up alongside three sisters, two older and one younger.^[1]

A gifted student, he became impatient with his studies during his first year of high school and skipped school often in favor of the library. After getting failing grades as a result, he convinced his mother to send him to a special accelerated high school for adults, and subsequently did well in that environment.^[2]

After graduating from high school, Branden went on to earn his BA in psychology from the University of California Los Angeles, an MA from New York University,^[3] and in 1973, a Ph.D. in psychology from the California Graduate Institute (CGI).^[4][5]

Objectivist movement[link]

After reading The Fountainhead and exchanging letters and phone calls with Ayn Rand, Branden and his then girlfriend Barbara Weidman visited Rand and her husband Frank O’Connor at their Los Angeles home in 1950, and the four became close friends, with Branden and Rand in particular sharing a vivid interest in philosophical exploration and development.^[6]

After the publication of Rand’s most explicitly philosophical novel, Atlas Shrugged, and sensing an interest on the part of Rand’s readers in further philosophic education, Branden created in 1958 the Nathaniel Branden Institute (NBI) to disseminate Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism, by offering live and taped lecture courses by Rand, Branden, and a variety of other Objectivist intellectuals (including Alan Greenspan, whom Branden had brought into Rand’s fold). During this time Branden also contributed articles to Rand’s newsletters on subjects ranging from economics to politics to psychology.^[7]

NBI expanded considerably over the course of its existence, ultimately offering courses in 80 cities and establishing an office in the Empire State Building.^[8] Then, in 1968, Rand publicly broke with Branden and published an article denouncing him and accusing him of a variety of offenses, such as philosophic irrationality and unresolved psychological problems.^[9] Branden, in response, sent out a letter to the NBI mailing list, suggesting that the actual cause of Rand’s denunciation of him was her inability to accept his unwillingness to engage in a romantic relationship with her.^[10] (Branden later explained in his memoir that he and Rand had in fact been romantically intimate for a period of time in the late 1950s; see personal life.)

After the break, Branden went on to publish The Psychology of Self-Esteem (many chapters of which he had published originally in Rand’s newsletter), and then to develop his theory and mode of therapy more independently of Rand’s influence. Though he remained supportive of the broad essentials of Rand’s philosophy, he eventually offered criticisms of aspects of her work, naming as problems her tendency to encourage emotional repression and moralizing, her failure to understand psychology beyond its cognitive aspects, and her failure to appreciate adequately the importance of kindness in human relationships.^[11]

Psychology of self-esteem[link]

Branden argues that self-esteem is a human psychological need and that to the extent this need remains unmet, pathology (defensiveness, anxiety, depression, difficulty in relationships, etc.) tends to result.^[12] He defines self-esteem formally as “the disposition to experience oneself as competent to cope with the basic challenges of life and as worthy of happiness,”^[13] and proposes that, while others (parents, teachers, friends) can nurture and support self-esteem in an individual, self-esteem also relies upon various internally generated practices. These consist, in Branden’s framework, of six “pillars” of self-esteem:^[14]

• Living consciously: the practice of being aware of what one is doing while one is doing it, i.e., the practice of mindfulness.
• Self-acceptance: the practice of owning truths regarding one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviors; of being kind toward oneself with respect to them; and of being “for” oneself in a basic sense.
• Self-responsibility: the practice of owning one’s authorship of one's actions and of owning one’s capacity to be the cause of the effects one desires.
• Self-assertiveness: the practice of treating one’s needs and interests with respect and of expressing them in appropriate ways.
• Living purposefully: the practice of formulating goals and of formulating and implementing action plans to achieve them.
• Personal integrity: the practice of maintaining alignment between one’s behaviors and convictions.

Branden distinguishes his approach to self-esteem from that of many others by his inclusion of both confidence and worth in his definition of self-esteem, and by his emphasis on the importance of internally generated practices for the improvement and maintenance of self-esteem. For this reason, he has at times expressed lack of enthusiasm about the teachings of the “self-esteem movement”,^[15] which he is sometimes credited with having spawned. (He has been referred to as “the father of the self-esteem movement.”^[16])

Mode of therapy[link]

While Branden began his practice of therapy as, primarily, a cognitivist,^[17] starting in the 1970s he rapidly shifted toward a decidedly technically eclectic stance, utilizing techniques from gestalt therapy, psychodrama, neo-Reichian breathwork, Ericksonian hypnosis, etc., as well as original techniques such as his sentence completion method, which he favored. In a piece from 1973, he characterized his mode of therapy as consisting of four aspects: education, emotional unblocking, stimulation of insight, and encouragement of behavior change. In contrast to the exclusively experiential or exclusively cognitive (insight-oriented) methods of the day, Branden saw his mode of therapy as distinguished in part by “the integration of the emotional and the cognitive, the practice of constantly moving back and forth between the experiential and the conceptual.” ^[18]

Sentence completion, a method that figures prominently in Branden’s mode of therapy, is a good example of this dual focus. In its most common variation, it consists of a therapist giving a client an incomplete sentence — a sentence stem — and having the client repeat the sentence stem over and over, each time adding a new ending, going quickly, without thinking or censoring, and inventing endings when stuck. In this way, a therapist can facilitate the generation of awareness and insight (for example, with a stem such as, “If my fear could speak, it might say—”), as well as shifts in cognitive-motivational structure (for example, with a stem such as, “If I were to be kinder to myself when I’m afraid—”). By improvising a succession of such stems, many based on endings generated by a previous stem, a therapist can, according to Branden, lead a client on a sometimes dramatically emotional journey of self exploration and self discovery.^[19]

More recently, Branden has integrated techniques from the field of energy psychology, such as Thought Field Therapy and Seemorg Matrix work, into his practice, viewing psychological trauma (which such techniques target) as a significant barrier to growth and development. He has described human problems as occurring both “above the line” — that is, in the realm of cognition and volitional behavior — and “below the line” — that is, in the realm of unconscious trauma stored in the body.^[20]

Personal life[link]

Branden married Barbara Wiedman in 1953, with close friends Ayn Rand and Rand’s husband Frank O’Connor in attendance. Branden would later state the marriage was unwise, and troubled from the beginning.^[21] In the context of these troubles, and Rand’s reported frustrations in her own marriage, Branden and Rand — who had a passionate philosophic bond — developed amorous feelings for each other, and, with the reluctant permission of their spouses, began a love affair in 1954.^[22][23] The affair lasted until the publication of Atlas Shrugged in 1957, after which, according to Branden, Rand became depressed, and the affair, practically speaking, ended.^[24]

Branden reports that Rand remained psychologically dependent on him after this period, and eventually began pushing for a resumption of their affair; his own marriage, meanwhile, was deteriorating, although he and Barbara were becoming closer as friends.^[25] Branden then met and fell in love with a student at NBI, Patrecia Scott. The two began an affair in 1964, shortly after which Nathaniel separated from Barbara and informed her of the affair.^[26] He (and Barbara) kept the affair secret from Rand, though, fearing an explosion.^[27] In 1968, Rand learned of the affair, and, in response, violently condemned both Brandens, dissociated herself from them, and denounced them publicly.^[28][29]

Branden at this point moved to California with Patrecia, the two married in 1969, and they lived together happily for seven years.^[30] In 1977, Patrecia died in a freak drowning accident, falling into a pool after presumably suffering a mild epileptic seizure.^[31] After a period of mourning, Branden married businesswoman (and later psychotherapist) Estelle Devers. The two later divorced, though remained good friends.^[32] Branden subsequently married Leigh Horton, with whom he lives currently.^[33]

Books[link]

• Who Is Ayn Rand? (with Barbara Branden) (1962)
• The Psychology of Self-Esteem (1969)
• Breaking Free (1970)
• The Disowned Self (1971)
• The Psychology of Romantic Love (1980)
• The Romantic Love Question & Answer Book (with Devers Branden) (1982)
• Honoring the Self (1983)
• If You Could Hear What I Cannot Say (1985)
• How To Raise Your Self-Esteem (1987)
• Judgment Day: My Years with Ayn Rand (1989)
• The Power of Self-Esteem (1992)
• The Art of Self Discovery (1993)
• The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem (1994)
• Taking Responsibility (1996)
• The Art of Living Consciously (1997)
• A Woman's Self-Esteem (1998)
• Nathaniel Branden's Self-Esteem Every Day (1998)
• Self-Esteem at Work (1998)
• My Years with Ayn Rand (1999) (revised edition of Judgment Day)
• 32nd Anniversary Edition of Psychology of Self-Esteem (2001)
• The Vision of Ayn Rand (2009) (book version of his "Basic Principles of Objectivism" lecture series)

Branden's books have been translated into 18 languages, with more than 4 million copies in print. In addition, Branden contributed essays to two of Rand's essay collections, Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal and The Virtue of Selfishness.

See also[link]

• Libertarianism
• Libertarianism and Objectivism

Footnotes[link]

External links[link]

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Nathaniel Branden

• Official website
• Interview by Mark Selzer on Taking Responsibility, 2006
• Interview by Mark Selzer on Ayn Rand and Objectivism, 2006
• Booknotes interview on Judgement Day: My Years with Ayn Rand, July 2, 1989.

Nathaniel Edwin Clyne (born 5 April 1991) is an English footballer who plays for Crystal Palace as a defender.

Early life[link]

Went to Richard Atkins and then Bishop Thomas Grant School.

Career[link]

Clyne made his debut for Crystal Palace in a league fixture on 18 October 2008 against Barnsley.^[2] He signed a three-year contract with Palace on 20 October 2008,^[3] and Neil Warnock stated Clyne "has a bright future in the game".^[4] Clyne is known to be a very silent person and a man of few words on the training pitch. However Neil Warnock is sure he will develop into a well-rounded and commanding player.^[5] In February 2010 he was offered a move to Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers, but rejected it without even entering talks with manager Mick McCarthy.^[6]

In the 2010–11 season, Clyne was the youngest player in the football league to play every single game of that campaign, with his assured and mature performances at right back earning him Crystal Palace's Player of the Year award.

Honours[link]

• 2009 Crystal Palace Young Player of the Year
• 2010 Crystal Palace Young Player of the Year
• 2010 Football League Young Player of the Year
• 2011 Crystal Palace Player of the Year
• October 2011 Championship Player of the Month
• PFA Team of the Year: 2011–12 Championship^[7]

Club career statistics[link]

As of 21 April 2012.

International career statistics[link]

As of 14 November 2011.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Nathaniel Clyne career stats at Soccerbase

v t e England squad – 2010 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship 1 Rudd 2 Clyne 3 Briggs 4 James (c) 5 Caulker 6 Baker 7 Mellis 8 Parrett 9 Noble 10 Delfouneso 11 Nouble 12 Bostock 13 Nicholls 14 Cruise 15 Brown 16 Thompson 17 Phillips 18 Donaldson Coach: Noel Blake

Gareth Bale

Personal information
Full name	Gareth Frank Bale[1]
Date of birth	(1989-07-16) 16 July 1989 (age 22)[1]
Place of birth	Cardiff, Wales
Height	1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Playing position	Left winger / Left back
Club information
Current club	Tottenham Hotspur
Number	3
Youth career
2005–2006	Southampton
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006–2007	Southampton	40	(5)
2007–	Tottenham Hotspur	113	(21)
National team‡
2005–2006	Wales U17	7	(1)
2006	Wales U19	1	(?)
2006–2008	Wales U21	4	(?)
2006–	Wales	33	(6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:25, 13 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 November 2011

Gareth Frank Bale (born 16 July 1989) is a Welsh footballer who plays for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Wales national team as a winger.

Bale began his professional career at Southampton, playing at left back, earning acclaim as a free kick specialist. Since transferring to Spurs in 2007, managerial and tactical shifts have seen him transform into a more offensively-oriented player. Recently, Bale has played an integral role in Tottenham's success domestically and in the Champions League.^[3][4][5]

Early life[link]

Bale was born in Cardiff to parents Frank, a school caretaker, and Debbie, an operations manager;^[6] he attended Eglwys Newydd Primary School at Whitchurch.^[7] He is the nephew of former Cardiff City footballer Chris Pike.^[8] It was while at this school he first came to the attention of Southampton at age nine, when he was playing in a six-a-side tournament with his first club, Cardiff Civil Service Football Club.^[9] Growing up his football hero was fellow Welshman and Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs.^[10]

Bale then attended Whitchurch High School in Cardiff.^[11] He was a keen athlete and played football alongside Wales flanker and captain Sam Warburton^[12], rugby, hockey and excelled at athletics.^[13] As a 14 year old he says that he ran the 100 metre sprint in 11.4 seconds.^[10] Because of his superior footballing skill, the school's PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to write special rules which restricted Bale to playing one-touch football and not using his left foot.^[12] Whilst at Whitchurch, Bale trained at Southampton's satellite academy in Bath, although there was initially some doubt if Southampton would give him a scholarship due to his height.^[6]

Despite being only 16 at the time, he helped the school's under-18 side win the Cardiff & Vale Senior Cup. He left school in the summer of 2005 with a Grade A in PE amongst his GCSE results. In his final year at school, he was awarded the PE department's prize for services to sport. In the presentation, Morris commented:

"Gareth has a fierce determination to succeed and has the character and qualities to achieve his personal goals. He is one of the most unselfish individuals that I have had the pleasure to help educate."^[14]

Club career[link]

Southampton[link]

On 17 April 2006, at the age of 16 years and 275 days, Bale became the second youngest player ever to play for Southampton (after Theo Walcott, who was 132 days younger) when he made his debut in the Saints' 2–0 victory against Millwall. On 6 August, Bale scored his first league goal, a free kick, to level the score at 1–1 against Derby County. The final score at Pride Park was 2–2.^[15]

He scored again, at St. Mary's, against Coventry City^[16] in the team's second game of the 2006–07 season with another free kick. Bale further developed his reputation as a free kick specialist when he struck the post from one against West Bromwich Albion.^[17] By 16 December 2006, Bale's goal count had risen to five, thanks to a late equaliser against Sunderland^[18] and free-kicks away to Hull^[19] and at home to Norwich City.

In December 2006, he won the Carwyn James Award for the BBC Wales Young Sports Personality of the Year,^[20] and was named the Football League Young Player of the Year on 4 March 2007.^[21] This capped what was described in the local press as an "incredible" first full season as a professional footballer in which he was one of the Saints' "most creative players even (though operating) from the left-back position whilst his defending improved immeasurably as the season progressed."^[22]

His final game for Southampton was in the first leg of the Championship play-off semi-final against Derby County on 12 May 2007. Bale suffered an injury during the second half, preventing him from appearing in the second leg.^[23][24] In total, he made 45 appearances for Southampton, scoring five goals.

Tottenham Hotspur[link]

On 25 May 2007, Bale signed a four year deal with Tottenham Hotspur with Spurs paying an initial £5 million for Bale, potentially rising to £10 million based on appearances and success.^[25] However, Tottenham paid Southampton an early settlement payment of £2 million in 2008 to reduce the final fee to £7 million and allow the Saints the immediate cash that they desperately needed.

2007–08[link]

He played his first game for Spurs in a friendly against St. Patrick's Athletic on 12 July 2007, but was substituted on the 80th minute with a minor dead-leg. He made his competitive debut for Tottenham Hotspur on 26 August away against Manchester United. In just his second Spurs appearance, he scored his first goal for Tottenham in the 3–3 draw with Fulham on 1 September when he latched on to Robbie Keane's flick, charged down the left flank unopposed and coolly slotted past goalkeeper Antti Niemi.^[26] Bale went on to score again against Arsenal in the North London Derby, scoring a free kick inside the near post.^[27] He then scored in the League Cup home tie against Middlesbrough,^[28] making it three goals in four starts for the then 18-year-old. He also set up Spurs' goal against Anorthosis Famagusta in the UEFA Cup.

Bale was substituted after sustaining an injury resulting from a tackle from Fabrice Muamba in the league fixture against Birmingham City on 2 December 2007. A scan revealed that Bale had suffered ligament damage to his right ankle, consigning him to an extended period on the sidelines. Spurs' sporting director Damien Comolli announced in February 2008 that Bale would miss the rest of the season through injury.^[29]

2008–09[link]

Bale in the Spurs' line-up before a match against Chelsea

He signed a new four-year deal with the club in August 2008.^[30] Bale was given the number 3 shirt for the 2008-09 season, which left previous number 3 Lee Young-Pyo without a squad number. After some poor performances, Bale was dropped in favour of Benoît Assou-Ekotto and the latter remained first-choice for most of the season.

2009–10[link]

After playing a record 24 Premier League games for Spurs without being on the winning side,^[31][32] Bale's first ever involvement in a Premier League victory came against Burnley on 26 September 2009 – more than two years after signing for Spurs – when he came on as an 85th minute substitute.^[33]

In June 2009, Bale underwent surgery for a knee injury, ruling him out for over two months. He missed pre-season matches and it was projected that he would miss the first few weeks of the 2009–10 season.^[34] On 26 September, he made his comeback as a substitute in the Spurs' 5–0 thrashing of Burnley. However, he endured a frustrating time on the bench as Benoît Assou-Ekotto was in good form. When Assou-Ekotto was sidelined with an injury, manager Harry Redknapp decided to give Bale a chance and he impressed in the Spurs' FA Cup third-round 4–0 win over Peterborough.^[35] He finally tasted victory for the first time as a starter in a league game in the 2–0 win over London rivals Fulham on 26 January 2010.^[36] His good form continued and he was named Player of the Round after helping the Spurs to a 3–1 win in the sixth round replay of the FA Cup against Fulham.^[37] In April 2010, Bale scored another goal against Arsenal after a pass from Defoe he tapped the ball past the Arsenal keeper.^[38] Three days later, Bale slammed in Tottenham's second with his weaker right foot in a 2–1 victory over leaders Chelsea and was named Man of the Match.^[39] He was named Barclays Player of the Month for April.^[40] He signed a new four-year contract at White Hart Lane on 7 May 2010 as a reward for helping the club reach the Champions League qualification place.^[41]

2010–11[link]

On 21 August, Bale scored twice in a 2–1 win at Stoke City, the second of which was a head-high volley into the top right hand corner of the goal.^[42] On 25 August, Bale set up all four goals to help Spurs overcome Young Boys 4–0 (6–3 agg.) in a Champions League play-off at White Hart Lane.^[43] Although Assou-Ekotto had already returned from injury, Bale continued his good form and cemented his place in the starting eleven, moving forward to left wing to accommodate Assou-Ekotto at left back. On 29 September 2010, Bale scored his first Champions League goal for Tottenham in a 4–1 home win against Dutch champions FC Twente in their second game of the group stages. In recognition, he was named Welsh Player of the Year by the FAW.^[44] On 20 October, Bale scored his first senior hat trick against European champions Internazionale at the San Siro in the Champions League. Tottenham lost the match 4–3, having been 4–0 down inside the first 35 minutes and playing with ten men for over 80 minutes of the match after goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes had been sent off in the eighth minute for a professional foul on Inter's Jonathan Biabiany.^[45] In the return match at White Hart Lane on 2 November, Bale provided a man of the match performance, setting up goals for Peter Crouch and Roman Pavlyuchenko to earn Spurs a memorable 3–1 win.^[46]

On 4 November, Bale stated that he intended to remain at Tottenham for the remainder of his recently-signed four-year contract, despite reported interest from other clubs.^[47] On 19 March 2011, Tottenham announced Bale had extended his stay at the club until 2015.^[48]

On 17 April 2011, Bale was honoured with the PFA Player of the Year award, as voted for by his peers.^[49] Amidst rumours linking him with Chelsea, Barcelona and a host of clubs, Bale decided to stay at White Hart Lane.

2011–12[link]

He scored his first goal of the season on 24 September 2011, in an away game against Wigan Athletic.^[50] The game ended in a 2–1 victory for Tottenham. He added his second and third goals of the season on 30 October with two goals against Queens Park Rangers in a 3–1 home win.^[51] He continued his good form with the first goal in a 3–1 victory over Fulham the following week, whilst also setting up Aaron Lennon who made it 2–0 on the stroke of half time.^[52] The first goal against Fulham was later ruled by the "dubious goals committee" to be an own goal by Chris Baird.^[53]

On 3 December, Bale scored the first goal in Tottenham's 3–0 victory over Bolton Wanderers. He marked the goal with a tribute to Gary Speed by holding up his left boot, with "R.I.P Gary Speed" stitched on it, in front of the Bolton fans.^[54] On 27 December, Bale scored twice to give Tottenham a 2–0 win against Norwich City.^[55] On 5 January 2012, Bale was announced as one of the players voted into the UEFA Team of the Year 2011. He scored his third brace of the season as he scored twice against Wigan on 31 January to take his tally to ten goals for the season.^[56] In January 2012 he was announced as the January Premier League Player of the Month for the second time in his career, after three goals and two assists in the Premier League for the month.^[57]

Style of play[link]

Bale originally started out playing as left back, but because of his great pace and dribbling skills, he was moved forward to play as a left winger.^{[citation needed]}

On 2 November 2010, after a Champions League group stage match against Internazionale, teammate Rafael van der Vaart said, "Everyone is scared of him [Bale]. Maicon is one of the best defenders in the world, and he's killed him."^[58][59]

In a report of the same match, Spanish newspaper El Mundo said:

Bale combines the height and build of an 800-metre runner like Steve Ovett with the acceleration and directness of a rugby winger like Bryan Habana. And, when he gets to the byline, he delivers curling crosses like a Brazilian. Big words? Yes, but that's what Bale is like – easily the greatest sensation in the opening month and a half of the Champions League. Ask Maicon what he thinks after the two exhibitions Bale turned in against Inter. Yesterday he left Maicon for dead and then a wily old fox like Lúcio was left in his wake like someone trying to follow the vapour trail of an aeroplane. Three goals and two assists — against the European champions. His performances have been stunning.^[60]

Following Bale's two goals against Norwich City on 27 December 2011, manager Harry Redknapp said:

If we sell him, we've had it haven't we? It would only be a Barcelona, a Man City or a Real Madrid who would be able to pay for him. He's an amazing player. He's got everything, there's not a weakness in his make-up. He can head the ball, he's as strong as an ox, he can run, dribble and shoot. Most important of all, he's a smashing lad.^[5][61]

Speaking at an interview in 2012, Manchester City fullback Micah Richards revealed that Gareth Bale was one of his toughest opponents he had ever faced, saying that:

"He made me feel an inch tall. Took me to pieces. He just doesn’t stop running. It's ridiculous."^[62]

International career[link]

Wales[link]

Bale was selected by Wales at the end of the 2005–06 season and made his international debut on 27 May 2006.^[63] He first appeared as a substitute in a 2–1 win over Trinidad and Tobago, making him the youngest ever player to play for Wales.^[64] Bale, who was just 16 years and 315 days, assisted the winning goal scored by Robert Earnshaw.

Brian Flynn commented that Bale was potentially a future star of the game, comparing his technical ability to that of Ryan Giggs.^[65] On 7 October 2006, Bale became the youngest player ever to score a goal for the full Welsh national team in the Euro 2008 qualification match against Slovakia with a trademark free kick.^[66] He scored his second goal for Wales in a 3–0 win over San Marino on 28 March 2007.

Bale was eligible to play for England through his grandmother, but he stated in 2007 that:

"It is an honour to play for Wales... Nobody ever got in touch with me personally from England, only through my agent."^[67]

After a long injury lay-off, he returned and started in the World Cup qualifier against Finland on 10 October 2009.^[68] On 14 October, he played a part in Wales' final World Cup qualifier by setting up David Vaughan to score the opening goal against Liechtenstein and won the free kick that led to the second, Aaron Ramsey's first at senior level.^[69]

In December 2010, Bale was awarded the BBC Cymru Sports Personality of the Year trophy.^[70]

Bale was called up to the Wales squad for the first time under Gary Speed to play against Australia on 10 August 2011. He previously missed the last four internationals with injury.^[71]

Great Britain[link]

Bale, who meets the age criteria to play in the 2012 London Olympics, said he would "love to play in the Olympics" for the Great Britain Olympic football team, in defiance of the Welsh FA.^[72] On 28 October 2011 Bale became the first player to be photographed modelling the British 2012 London Olympics football supporters' shirt. In response, Football Association of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford said: "Our position remains unchanged. We are not for Team GB. Gareth can make his own choices and make his own decisions. But we are not going to stop anyone playing." On behalf of Gareth Bale a spokesman said "while he is 100% Welsh, he is also British".^[73]

International goals[link]

Scores and results list. Wales' goal tally first.

Goal	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	7 October 2006	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	Slovakia	1 – 2	1 – 5	Euro 2008 qualifying
2.	28 March 2007	Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	San Marino	2 – 0	3 – 0	Euro 2008 qualifying
3.	12 October 2010	St. Jakob-Park, Basel, Switzerland	Switzerland	1 – 1	1 – 4	Euro 2012 qualifying
4.	7 October 2011	Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales	Switzerland	2 – 0	2 – 0	Euro 2012 qualifying
5.	11 October 2011	Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria	Bulgaria	1 – 0	1 – 0	Euro 2012 qualifying
6.	12 November 2011	Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales	Norway	1 – 0	4 – 1	Friendly

Career statistics[link]

As of 13 May 2012^[74]

¹ Includes Football League Championship play-offs

² The Spurs goal tally excludes the "goal" scored against Fulham on 6 November 2011, later ruled as an "own goal".^[53]

Honours[link]

Club[link]

Southampton Academy

• Premier Academy League: 2005–06

Individual[link]

• PFA Championship Team of the Year: 2006–07
• Football League Young Player of the Year: 2007
• FAW Young Player of the Year: 2007^[75]
• E.ON Player of the Round: 2009–10 5th Round^[76]
• Premier League Player of the Month: April 2010,^[77] January 2012
• Tottenham Hotspur Football Club 'Young Player Of The Year': 2009–10,^[78] 2010–11
• Wales Player of the Year Award: 2010,^[79] 2011^[80]
• BBC Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2010^[81]
• BBC Wales Carwyn James Junior Sportsman of the Year Award 2006^[20]
• PFA Premier League Team of the Year: 2010–11, 2011–12
• PFA Players' Player of the Year: 2010–11^[49]
• UEFA Team of the Year 2011

References[link]