GARETH Bale capped an “amazing” 12 months by being named Welsh player of the year for the fourth time in a row.
Bale helped Real Madrid win the Champions League before scoring three goals as Wales reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
And the former Tottenham Hotspur star was the big winner at the Football Association of Wales Awards at the Vale Resort on Tuesday night, claiming the prize for best men’s player for the fourth year in a row and a sixth time in seven years.
Massive honour to be named @FAWales Player of the Year! Big thank you to all the Boys, Staff and Fans #TogetherStronger pic.twitter.com/5ORt6ksQZj
— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) November 8, 2016
“It’s an honour to win this award but I can’t do it without my teammates, the coaching staff and the medical team,” said the 27-year-old.
“It’s been an amazing year and we want to do it all again.
“Individual awards are not so important to me. The main thing is success with the team and individual awards come after.
“It’s been an incredible year. Obviously winning the Champions League again was great.
“And with the Euros you couldn’t have asked for anything more.
“Obviously we would love to have gone further and won but I think what we experienced at the tournament will live in our memories forever.”
Ahead Saturday’s World Cup qualifying clash with Serbia in Cardiff, Bale also talked about the team spirit in the Welsh camp.
“We just enjoy each other’s company,” he said. “We’re constantly messing around but when it does come to the serious work we do put a shift in.
“I think that’s the great thing – we enjoy each other’s company but when it comes to it we step up and we deliver.”
The award winners were as follows…
FAW Special Award (sponsored by Vale Hotel): Chris Coleman
Welsh Premier League Clubman of the Year (sponsored by Jeff White Motors): Phil Baker - The New Saints
Men’s Awards
Fans’ Player of the Year (sponsored by Vauxhall): Joe Allen
Young Player of the Year (sponsored by Morgans Consult): Ethan Ampadu
Media Choice Award (sponsored by Brains): Chris Gunter
Players’ Player of the Year (sponsored by Fosters): Joe Allen
Player of the Year (sponsored by Vauxhall): Gareth Bale
Women’s Awards
Young Player of the Year (sponsored by Edwards Holidays): Bronwen Thomas
Players’ Player of the Year (sponsored by Orchard): Sophie Ingle
Fans’ Favourite of 2016 (sponsored by Vauxhall): Sophie Ingle
Player of the Year (sponsored by Vauxhall): Natasha Harding
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