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The Times & The Sunday Times
The Times & The Sunday Times
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Craig Bellamy appointed Wales manager

The former striker succeeds the sacked Rob Page as his country turn their attention from Euro 2024 qualifying failure to reaching the 2026 World Cup
Paul Joyce
The Times
Bellamy was first-team coach at Burnley under Kompany
Bellamy was first-team coach at Burnley under Kompany
ROB NEWELL/CAMERASPORT/GETTY IMAGES
Paul Joyce
The Times

Craig Bellamy has become the new Wales manager after beating a host of candidates to the job.

Bellamy, 44, succeeds Rob Page, who was sacked last month after failing to reach Euro 2024, having lost a play-off final in March.

The former striker, who played 78 times for Wales, was first-team coach at Burnley, where he worked under Vincent Kompany before becoming acting head coach after Kompany joined Bayern Munich this summer.

Burnley have since appointed Scott Parker as their new head coach and Bellamy will now branch out on his own and take on the responsibility of leading Wales to the World Cup in 2026.

Henry, who is the France Under-21 coach and is coaching his country at the Paris Olympics, was considered by the Welsh FA
Henry, who is the France Under-21 coach and is coaching his country at the Paris Olympics, was considered by the Welsh FA
EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

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.

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“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 Welsh FA spoke to Bellamy last week and had also considered Thierry Henry, the former France striker and now France Under-21 coach, and Des Buckingham, the Oxford United head coach, for the position. Bellamy was overlooked for the job in 2018 when Ryan Giggs was appointed.

Bellamy’s first game as Wales manager will be the Nations League match against Turkey on September 6, before a match away to Montenegro three days later.