Gareth Bale named Welsh Player of the Year for the 4th consecutive year

London: Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale was named Welsh Player of the Year for the fourth successive year and sixth time in seven years in Tuesday’s Football Association of Wales awards. [caption id=“attachment_3097018” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Gareth Bale. AFP[/caption] Bale, 27, inspired Wales to a shock semi-final showing at Euro 2016, scoring three goals in the group phase, and needs three goals to equal Ian Rush’s national scoring record of 28. The year has also seen him win his second Champions League title with Madrid. Bale has also been named in the 30-man Fifa Ballon d'or shortlist alongside Real Madrid teammates Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric. Manager Chris Coleman received an FAW Special Award at the ceremony in the Vale of Glamorgan, south Wales. Stoke City midfielder Joe Allen, named in the Euro 2016 team of the tournament, was voted Players’ and Fans’ Player of the Year, with Reading full-back Chris Gunter collecting the media award. Bale took to Twitter to thank his teammates and fans for the honour.

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

  with inputs from AFP