Back to the United States Newsfeed

Tottenham tactical tweak triggered Bale's 'career explosion', says former boss Villas-Boas

Former Tottenham head coach Andre Villas-Boas has revealed a conversation he had with Gareth Bale that ignited the Welshman's career.

Villas-Boas spent a season and a half in charge in north London, leading Spurs to a fifth-place finish in 2012-13 before he was sacked midway through the following season.

The 2012-13 campaign was also Bale's final season with Spurs before his big-money move to Real Madrid, with the Wales star netting 21 Premier League goals during that season.

Editors' Picks

Villas-Boas has claimed some of the credit for the form which led to that transfer, saying a mid-season conversation with Bale helped change the course of his campaign.