Craig Bellamy named as Wales boss
Craig Bellamy has been announced as the Cymru Men’s National Team Head Coach until 2028.
Craig Bellamy has been announced as the Cymru Men’s National Team Head Coach until 2028
Bellamy will succeed Rob Page - who was sacked last month - after turning down the opportunity to stay at Burnley under new Clarets boss Scott Parker.
Bellamy, 44, is a former Wales skipper who won 78 caps for his country between 1998 and 2013.
The Football Association of Wales were open to the idea of appointing their first non-Welsh manager since 1999 after ending Page's three-and-a-half-year reign in the wake of failing to qualify for Euro 2024.
Former France forward Thierry Henry and Georgia boss Willy Sagnol were among those linked with the position.
Bellamy - who just lost out on the job in 2017 when Ryan Giggs was appointed - impressed the FAW hierarchy when he was interviewed in the north of England last week.
Bellamy has spent the last two seasons at Burnley, where he worked as number two to Vincent Kompany.
He was put in interim charge after Kompany left for Bayern Munich in May and Parker said on Monday that he wanted the Welshman to stay on his coaching staff at Turf Moor.
But Bellamy has decided to return home to Wales, with only a couple of minor points to be ironed out before the FAW announce his appointment on Tuesday.
Bellamy began his coaching career in the academy of hometown club Cardiff and served as Kompany's assistant at Anderlecht and then Burnley.
Wales return to action with a Nations League home tie against Turkey on September 6 before heading to Montenegro three days later.
On his appointment, Bellamy said: “It’s an incredible honour for me to be given the opportunity to lead my country and it’s the proudest moment of my career. It was always my ultimate dream to become the Cymru Head Coach and I am ready for the challenge.
“I will give my full commitment to develop this team and I am passionate to bring continued success into Welsh football. I can’t wait to get started with our Nations League games in September.”
The FAW’s Chief Football Officer, Dr. David Adams, said: “I am absolutely delighted to announce Craig as our new Head Coach. We undertook a thorough recruitment process for the new Men’s National Team Head Coach and Craig was identified as the standout candidate.
“We are all looking forward to the Nations League games and working with Craig to deliver success for Welsh Football.”
Bellamy’s first match in charge of the side will be on Friday 6 September against Türkiye at the Cardiff City Stadium, where Cymru will begin their UEFA Nations League campaign.
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