Craig Bellamy Appointed Head Coach Of Cymru

Former Wales international Craig Bellamy has been named as the new Wales manager.

He has been given a four-year deal that runs until EURO 2028, which will be partly held in Wales.

Bellamy, 44, was previously assistant manager at Burnley under Vincent Kompany, who moved to Bayern Munich in May.

Bellamy won 78 caps for Cymru, scoring 19 goals and captaining his country between 2007 and 2010.

Wales’ next game is against Türkiye in the UEFA Nations League at the Cardiff City Stadium on Friday 6th September, where Bellamy will take charge of the team for the first time.

‘Incredible honour for me’

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.”

Coaching career so far

Following his retirement in 2014, the former Cardiff City and Liverpool attacker moved straight into coaching, initially in Cardiff’s academy before being appointed Cardiff’s player development manager, overseeing all age groups at the club’s youth academy in 2016.

Bellamy previously applied for the Wales head coach role in 2018, following Chris Coleman’s move from Cymru to Sunderland. He lost out on that occasion to Ryan Giggs.

In 2019, Bellamy became the U21 manager for Belgian side Anderlecht, following Kompany’s appointment as manager. He followed his former Manchester City teammate to Burnley in 2022, this time in the role of first team coach.

In May 2024, after Kompany left to join Bayern Munich in the wake of Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League, Bellamy was appointed acting head coach.

Leaving Burnley

Prior to Scott Parker’s appointment as manager in July, Bellamy was acting head coach in the interim period.

On leaving the club, Bellamy admitted it wasn’t easy to walk away.

“From the first moment I walked into the training ground at Burnley…I knew it was the right club for me and I have loved every moment since,” he said.

“The relationships I have with all the people at the club, in every department, made my time at Burnley special and leaving a truly difficult decision. But the chance to be the manager, of Wales, my country, has always been a dream that has never left me and a chance I just couldn’t turn down.

“I wish Scotty all the very best, he’s a good person and a close friend and the club is in great hands.”