Gareth Bale bids farewell to Real Madrid, honored by queen
By TALES AZZONI and ROB HARRIS
AP Sports Writers
MADRID (AP) — Gareth Bale bid farewell to Real Madrid and earned another honor — this time from Queen Elizabeth II. The five-time Champions League winner was named a Member of the Order of the British Empire, or MBE, in the Queen’s Birthday Honors List. The announcement of the honor for services to football and charity coincides with celebrations of the 96-year-old monarch’s Platinum Jubilee. It came with Bale on international duty with Wales ahead of a World Cup playoff final against Ukraine on Sunday. The 32-year-old Bale’s contract expires with Madrid later this month.