WALES — Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has been named Welsh player of the year for a record fifth time by the Football Association of Wales. Bale, who has 52 caps for his country, scored the only goal in Wales' 1-0 win over Belgium in Cardiff in June and scored another winner to secure a 1-0 victory in Cyprus in September in the European Championship qualifiers. The wins have put Wales on the brink of its first major Finals in over 50 years. The 26-year-old had a stellar debut campaign at Real Madrid, as he scored the winner in the King's Cup final and also the Champions League final. — Reuters