Wales has produced some of the best football players in British history. Welsh players have left a mark on not only the premier league but also the footballing world as a whole. Being one of the most patriotic bunch of lads, every Welsh great has preferred his own national team over any other option available to him.
From Ian Rush to Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale, Welsh football has never lacked talent, and it shows in their meteoric rise in the FIFA world rankings. The nation has risen up from being 117th in the ranking only a few years ago to being a top 20 side in the world.
If you are a Welsh football fan who loves roulette, you can try your luck at casino 777. After qualifying for this year’s FIFA World Cup, the Welsh football team, led by Gareth Bale, left everyone surprised.
The nation even made it to the semi-finals of the Euros in 2016, which is, to date, one of its biggest achievements. Below, we look at some of the greatest Welsh footballers from all eras and rank them based on their achievements.
1. Gareth Bale
One of the most accomplished British footballers of all time, Gareth Bale, is without a doubt the greatest footballer Wales has ever produced. Bale started his professional career at Southampton as a left-back and joined Tottenham Hotspurs later on.
At Spurs, because of his talents, he was given a more attacking role, and it wasn’t long before he became a winger. After moving up the pitch, Bale accomplished things that many players can only dream of, going on to win the Premier League Young Player of the Year and the Premier League Player of the Year.
Following his historic run at Spurs, Bale signed for Real Madrid for a world-record fee at that time and helped the club win the Champions League in his first year at the club after a wait of over a decade.
During his time at Real Madrid, Bale won five champions league titles and is considered by many to be not only the greatest Welsh footballer but also the greatest British footballer of all time.
With the Welsh football team, Bale made it to the semi-finals of the Euros and helped the country qualify for its first World Cup in over 60 years. He is also the top goal scorer in the national team’s history.
2. Ian Rush
Another Welsh legend, Ian Rush, is among the most iconic players who ever graced the Premier League. One of the most dangerous players in the final third, Rush saw most success as a Liverpool player, winning the English league five times and the European Cup twice.
He still holds the record for the most goals scored by a player in a Liverpool shirt and is a legend on Merseyside. He also played for Juventus during his illustrious career but eventually returned to Liverpool during his final years as a footballer.
Rush was also the highest goal scorer in the Welsh football team’s history until Bale overtook him.
3. Ryan Giggs
Controversies aside, Ryan Giggs, when it comes to footballing ability, is one of the greatest Premier League footballers of all time.
Being the most decorated British player ever, Giggs won 13 Premier League titles, along with 2 Champions League titles and 4 FA Cups.
However, his career for the Welsh national team wasn’t as great as his club career, and he has been blamed for not putting in as much effort for his country as he did for his club. Regardless, if one is talking about the greatest Welsh footballers of all time, Ryan Giggs cannot be excluded from the list.
4. John Charles
John Charles, also known as the Gentle Giant, was the greatest Welsh footballer before players like Bale and Rush came around.
He helped his country qualify for the World Cup in 1958 and was one of the best players of his era. To this day, he is remembered for not only his ability but also his behavior on the pitch.
