Tottenham winger Gareth Bale has thanked manager Harry Redknapp for 'toughening him up' into one of the world's most exciting footballers.Bale, 21, completed a Welsh double as he added the 2010 BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality crown to his Welsh Footballer of the Year gong.
The Wales star took more than two years to become a Spurs regular following his move from Southampton in 2007.
He said: "He wanted me to toughen up as I was still a young boy."
Bale was once more renowned for his hair clip than his devastating, lung-busting performances down the left-flank.
But after a frustrating first two-and-a-half years at White Hart Lane, Bale has matured into a top-level player and started to fulfil his huge potential with a host of stunning performances.
Bale cost Tottenham an initial £5m to sign the Welsh international from the Saints in the summer of 2007 - a fee that could rise to a record £10m.
Bale has admitted he suffered a "rough time" at the start of his Tottenham career when the Cardiff-born player spent almost 18 months on the sidelines as he underwent surgery on both foot and knee injuries.
He then earned unwanted headlines as Bale played a record 24 Premier League games without being on the winning side before Spurs' win over Burnley in September 2009.
Bale took until January 2010 to start to hold down a first-team place at Tottenham when regular left-back Benoit Assou-Ekotto went on African Cup of Nations duty with Cameroon.
It did take a while for me to hold down a first-team spot at Tottenham - and longer than I expected it would
Tottenham Hotspur star Gareth Bale
But Bale's form of 2010 has earned him headlines for all the right reasons with sensational displays.
And the 27-times capped Welshman ends the year as arguably the form player in the Premier League and widely-acknowledged as one of the finest footballers in the world.
"Looking back on some things I think 'wow'," Bale admitted to BBC Wales Sport. "And a year ago I did not think I would be doing stuff like that."
"It did take a while for me to hold down a first-team spot at Tottenham - and longer than I expected it would.
"I had a lot of injuries and was out for eight months with my foot injury and six months with my knee injury.
"But I don't think I ever thought my future lied elsewhere, when I wasn't playing I went in to see the manager and to ask when was I going to be given my chance.
"There was a lot of things the manager wanted me to do and there were certain aspects of my game I needed to improve on.
"And he wanted me to toughen up as I was still a young boy at the time.
"So I worked hard in training to prove to him that I was worthy of a spot in the team.
Gareth Bale 'honoured' by BBC Wales award
"He always said 'be patient and keep working hard in training and you will get your chance' - so I was always confident, I just had to be prepared and ready to give 100% when the chance came. And I got my chance and never looked back.
"I have always had the belief in my own ability so I knew if I trained hard and was patient, things would happen for me.
"But I feel the main reason for my good form is playing week in week out, playing regularly is the best way for me to improve - and in every game I'm learning and growing in confidence."
Bale helped Spurs qualify for the Champions League then earned worldwide plaudits for his two performances against reigning European champions Inter Milan.
Bale scored a hat-trick in Tottenham's 4-3 pool defeat in the San Siro before inspiring Spurs to a 3-1 win - with two assists - in the reverse fixture at White Hart Lane.
Gareth Bale handed BBC Wales award by Spurs legend Clive Allen
Bale's rampaging performances down the left-wing for Spurs and his superb delivery - coupled with 13 goals so far in 2010 - has led to speculation that rivals could be willing to splash out £60m on a swoop to tempt the player away from White Hart Lane.
"If someone had said to me a year ago that I would one day be described as one of the best players in the Premier League and best left-sided players in the world, I would not have believed them," said.
"But I try to keep myself away from what is written and said about me.
"I know there was a lot going on after the Inter Milan games and there was a lot of talk - but I switched off to that and concentrated on training.
"I must keep my feet on the ground as to continue progressing, I must keep working hard as hard work is the reason why I've had a good year."
* Catch the full Gareth Bale interview on Sport Wales on BBC TWO Wales this Friday at 1900 GMT.
Source: BBC Sport
Source: BBC Sport