Craig Bellamy has been appointed as the new head coach of the Wales national football team, a role he has described as the “best job in the world.” The 44-year-old, who previously served as an assistant manager at Burnley, takes over from Rob Page. Bellamy, who earned 78 caps for Wales between 1998 and 2013, is embarking on his first permanent head coach position for a senior team.
Bellamy expressed immense pride and enthusiasm for his new role. “I feel like every job I do is at the biggest club, the best club in the world,” he said. “This now is the best job in the world, Wales are the best footballing nation in the world. That’s how it feels to me.”
A proud Welshman and dedicated student of the game, Bellamy is known for his commitment to self-improvement and his deep understanding of the teams and nations he represents. “I need to know everything about it, the history,” Bellamy stated. “Being home obviously gives me a head start because I grew up here. I’m from here, I need to know what’s gone on in Wales down the years and the history of Wales, how it has developed. That’s important to me.”
In his first press conference as Wales head coach, Bellamy reflected on his strong connection to Wales, a connection he realized was deeply rooted within him. He recounted a conversation with former Burnley head coach Vincent Kompany, who acknowledged that the Wales job was the one role that could lure Bellamy away from Burnley.
Bellamy steps into his new role at a time when the Welsh national team has enjoyed unprecedented success. Under previous coach Chris Coleman, Wales reached the semi-finals of the 2016 European Championships and qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 64 years. Despite early exits in the World Cup and the 2020 European Championship, Wales has set new standards and expectations for qualifying for major tournaments.
Bellamy attributed a significant part of this success to the support of Welsh fans. He noted the transformation in crowd support and its impact on the team’s performance, especially during crucial moments in matches. “I’ve felt over the last four or five years they have never allowed that to happen. They got louder because they’ve seen those moments,” Bellamy remarked. “That’s why I believe we qualified for major tournaments, because the supporters read the room and understood the players needed them. They’ve played a huge part in it and I hope they know that as well.”
Bellamy’s tenure begins with high hopes and expectations as he leads Wales into a new era, aiming to build on the recent successes and continue the momentum of the national team.
