10 hours ago
27
Gareth Bale has lifted the lid on his time at Tottenham, revealing the story behind the so-called Welsh Mafia and how even Heung-min Son and Jose Mourinho became part of the group.
Tottenham Hotspur have welcomed players from across the globe in recent years, with several big names pulling on the famous Lilywhite shirt.
Among those stars is Gareth Bale, who stands out as one of the few to have enjoyed two separate spells at the club, first as a rising talent before securing a world record move to Real Madrid in 2013, and later returning on loan in 2020.
It was during his return that Bale rekindled ties with Tottenham while forging new friendships, including with then-manager Jose Mourinho and Korean forward Heung-min Son, relationships that extended beyond the pitch.
Gareth Bale opens up on infamous Welsh Mafia at Tottenham
Bale was not the only Welshman in the Spurs ranks during his second stint, with Ben Davies and Joe Rodon also featuring for both Tottenham and the national team.
Speaking in a recent podcast with Cam, Bale explained how Heung-min Son became part of their close-knit group, and how Mourinho himself even found a way into the fold.
Son struck up a strong bond with Ben Davies that endured even after Bale’s exit, but it was Bale who has now spoken publicly about how the so-called Welsh Mafia came about during his time back at the club.
He said: “Sonny is an honorary member. Asked about Lucas Moura being involved, Bale added: ‘Oh no, he has just got his own one.’”
Bale went on to praise Son’s loyalty and career at Tottenham, adding: “Sonny deserved to be able to lift a trophy, an amazing career at Tottenham and a loyal servant. Sonny is basically half Welsh.”
Asked how the Mafia began, Bale admitted: “I do not actually know who started it. It was basically me, Joe and Ben, obviously together for a while with Wales, and then Sonny was very close to Ben, so when me and Joe came in, we were kind of just a group and basically hung around 24/7 with each other. We just came close and we became the Welsh Mafia. It was like a boy band. It was good.”
Recalling Mourinho’s involvement, Bale said: “I think Jose Mourinho got a shirt as well. It was like all our silhouettes on a T-shirt with Welsh Mafia at the top. I actually still have it at home.”
What has happened to the Welsh Mafia since
The Welsh Mafia has long since broken apart, with only Ben Davies remaining at Tottenham, the 32-year-old now the longest-serving player in the current squad.
Heung-min Son, meanwhile, has brought his decade-long stay in north London to an end, with the forward moving to MLS side LAFC in the United States.
Bale himself has stepped into punditry with TNT Sports, covering UEFA Champions League matches, coinciding with Tottenham’s return to the competition.
Mourinho has taken up various jobs since leaving Tottenham, most recently with Fenerbahce, though that stint was short-lived following his dismissal.
As for Rodon, he is back in the Premier League with Leeds United, playing a role in their return to the top flight this season.
Have something to tell us about this article?
English (US) ·