It's been a whirlwind 2012 for Icons in which we've conducted signings with old friends Leo Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, met with legends like Eric Cantona and Brazilian Ronaldo and struck up new partnerships with the amazing Pep Guardiola and Neymar. And on top of all that, we've just had our busiest Christmas ever. But what does 2013 have in store?

We're kicking off the new year in style this evening (a little early, we know) with the launch of our January Sale, slashing prices on our stunning range of signed memorabilia from the world's best players by up to 50%. Check back from 6pm GMT tonight (24 December) for:

• £50 off signed signed Leo Messi Barcelona 2012-13 season shirts and boots
• Up to £150 off signed Cristiano Ronaldo products
• 20% off our entire Preframed selection including signed framed items from the likes of Gareth Bale, Luis Suarez and Olympian Jess Ennis.
• £100 off selected Andres Iniesta signed memorabilia

Gareth Bale became a father for the first time recently but in a lot of ways he should probably be used to the added responsibility – not to mention the sensation of his world changing overnight. Since that iconic performance against Inter Milan in the 2010 UEFA Champions League at the San Siro where in just ninety minutes he transformed himself into one of Europe’s most sought-after superstars, the Welshman has shouldered more and more responsibility for Spurs.

Bought in 2007 from Southampton as a left back with a knack for exquisite set pieces and galloping dashes up and down the touchline, Bale has recently been filling in as a central midfielder in the absence of the recently departed Luka Modric and Rafael Van Der Vaart. It’s not his first reinvention, having been ushered into a more attacking role on the wing by former coach Harry Redknapp over the previous two seasons, but it’s certainly his most dramatic – and telling of a new, more mature player.

There’s an argument to be made that the 23-year-old has always had his head firmly screwed on his shoulders and that’s true – after all, when the likes of Real Madrid, Inter and Barcelona all enquired as to his availability following his feats in 2010-11, he was level-headed enough to sense he was better off for now at a club where he was near-guaranteed first team football and more able to develop his talents. But on the pitch, his displays this season have pointed to a more well-rounded player who is adapting to life as one of the most tightly marked players in the Premier League.

“Since people have been double marking and triple marking me, it is something I have had to bring into my game,” he told reporters late last year. “I’m happy to contribute and just be wherever the boss needs me.” This readiness to buckle down for the team in whatever position coach Andre Villas-Boas most needs him is part and parcel of the Welshman’s coming of age – he’s as happy doing the gritty work of a centre mid as he is getting the White Hart Lane faithful on their feet by speeding past defenders.

Already this season Bale, now Spurs’ chief creative player, has engineered the club’s first win at Old Trafford in 23 years (before he was born), recorded four goals and three assists, has a shots to goals ratio of 8.8 and last month scored twice to give Wales their first win under new manager Chris Coleman against Scotland.

Echoing Cristiano Ronaldo who in his coming of age season at Manchester United in 2007-08 played in numerous different positions, the Welshman has been deployed as a playmaker, on the wing and in a deeper lying role at various times so far in 2012-13. Harry Redknapp claims the new Bale is every bit as good as Ronaldo and Leo Messi. "He's almost unplayable when he's on his game. He is a genuine world-class player. There's nobody he couldn't play for. He'd improve any team.”

Spurs, who face champions Manchester City in what promises to be an intriguing tie this weekend, will be hoping their Welsh wonder is going nowhere.

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Tottenham's Gareth Bale is the newest name on the Icons roster. And after our first exclusive signing session with the 22-year-old Welshman last week in London, we now stock a fantastic range of his signed products. With his electric performances continuing to raise his profile in world football, the reigning PFA Player of the Year is enjoying another sensational season with Spurs. In such devastating form, can the man recently valued at £150million make fair claim to being the world's best winger?

Gareth Bale’s transformation from Tottenham’s not-so-lucky charm to one of the most coveted players in the world has been dazzling. After signing for Spurs from Southampton for an initial fee of £5m in 2007, he featured in a record 24 Premier League games without winning. Fast forward to 2012, however, and the Bale jinx already seems a distant memory.

Manchester City are among a host of clubs to have been linked with a move for Bale, and although the £150million price tag placed on his shoulders by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is as much a deterrent for hovering suitors as it is a valuation, he certainly merits a mention among the world’s best. The Welshman has a future at the very top of the game, and Spurs are determined to ensure it is staged at White Hart Lane.

Bursting with pace, power and technique - as traditional wingers go - Bale's artillery is second to none in modern football. Real Madrid's Ángel di María runs him close in many departments, but, crucially, Bale carries a far greater goal threat than the Argentinian. Today, Bale's outstanding ability is plain to see, but three years ago few could have predicted such a meteoric rise.

After tasting victory in the Premier League for the first time against Burnley in September 2009, Bale only began to fulfil his abundant potential in the latter stages of that campaign, when he was named Premier League Player of the Month for April as Spurs secured 4^th place Champions League qualification. Having made a name for himself in England, however, it was the following season in Spurs' debut Champion League campaign that he was propelled onto the world stage.

Bale’s magnificent performances on the left flank against reigning European champions Inter Milan encapsulated all that is so effective about his game. His phenomenal athleticism and ferocious finishing landed him a stunning hat-trick at the San Siro and two assists back at White Hart Lane. After a nightmarish 180 minutes with a rampaging Bale, the previously burgeoning reputation of Inter right-back Maicon was reduced to tatters. It was a chastening experience from which the Brazilian has never properly recovered. “Everyone is scared of [Bale],” said his Spurs teammate Rafael van der Vaart at the time. “Maicon is one of the best defenders in the world, and he’s killed him.”

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp’s decision to move Bale from left-back to a more advanced role has proved the making of him. And his positional development has continued in recent months as he has regularly switched wings, and even operated centrally behind the striker. With licence to roam, Bale has thrived. After his brace against Wigan on Tuesday, he already has 10 Premier League goals to his name this season, more than any other midfielder in the division. A total return of 10 goals and eight assists is testament to his outstanding contribution to Spurs’ unfancied title challenge. A player of Bale’s calibre requires exposure to Champions League football, and Spurs fans can delight in the fact that they are on course to provide it next season.

At international level, Bale has scored three goals in his last three appearances for a resurgent Wales. He has also made public his desire to feature for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Bale is central to a bright, young Wales squad looking to honour Gary Speed’s legacy under the guidance of the newly-installed Chris Coleman. After making his international debut at the age of 16 and 315 days, Bale’s name has already gone down in Wales’ history as their youngest ever player. As a nation, they have only qualified for a major tournament once, in 1958, but with a fit and firing Gareth Bale, the next decade could represent the best opportunity they ever get to replicate that feat.

Argentinian? Spanish? Dutch? No; the world's best winger is a Welshman.

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This week at Icons, we held our first exclusive signing session with Tottenham star Gareth Bale. Recently valued at an astonishing £150million by his club, the sensational Welsh winger is one of the hottest properties in football. And in the week he was voted the only British representative in the UEFA.com team of 2011, we are delighted to add the PFA Player of the Year to our prestigious roster of the world’s best players. View our full range of signed Gareth Bale products here, and read on to find out more about our signing together.

A team of three Icons employees went to meet Gareth on Wednesday January 25. In a van loaded with shirts, boots, photos and cameras, we departed Icons’ North London headquarters at midday. The location for our meeting was a conference room in a hotel in Chigwell, Essex, just a stone’s throw from Spurs’ training ground. It was in this hotel that Gareth first lodged after arriving from Southampton as a 17-year-old back in May 2007. He returns - four-and-a-half years later - as one of the world's best players.

Gareth was coming directly from training, where he had been preparing with the rest of the squad for Spurs' FA Cup tie against Watford on Friday night. His agent was first to join us at the hotel, and was soon informed via text message that Gareth would be arriving shortly after some routine physio work. He pulled up at 3pm, and after a friendly greeting and a round of handshakes, he sat down to begin the signing process. Gareth began by signing shirts (pictured below), before moving on to boots and finally photos of him in action.

Personable and relaxed, Gareth was a pleasure to work with. Despite a meteoric rise that has taken him from bit-part squad player to one of the world's elite at the tender age of 22, his feet remain firmly on the ground. Gareth's scintillating performances against then European champions Inter Milan in Spurs' 2010/11 Champions League campaign propelled him onto the world stage, but he is completely unaffected by stardom. Gareth was more than happy to chat all things football throughout the session. He took time and care over every signature, and was patient and professional from start to finish.

The session lasted just over an hour, and after one last round of photos, Gareth and his agent were on their way. We were left to reflect on a good day's work, and head back to the office to get the products online for our customers.

Gareth is pictured here with Dan and Nick, two members of the Icons team.

To view Icons full collection of signed Gareth Bale products, click here

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