Bellamy set to be named Wales manager

Craig Bellamy is group to beryllium named nan caller Wales manager.

Bellamy, 44, has emerged arsenic nan Football Association of Wales (FAW's) first prime to switch Rob Page, who was sacked past month.

Bellamy is presently astatine Burnley, wherever he had been acting caput coach earlier Scott Parker’s assignment past week.

Parker was keen to activity pinch nan Welshman, but it appears nan erstwhile Wales skipper is attracted to managing his country.

BBC Sport Wales understands nan last specifications of a woody are still beryllium agreed pinch some Bellamy and Burnley.

But an assignment is understood to beryllium close, bringing an extremity nan hunt to switch Page who was sacked past month aft failing to lead Wales to Euro 2024.

Bellamy has agelong stated his ambition to negociate his state and met pinch elder FAW figures past week.

Arsenal fable Thierry Henry, Georgia leader Willy Sagnol and astonishment contender Oxford United leader Des Buckingham were each spoken to astir nan post.

But Bellamy, who narrowly missed retired to Ryan Giggs for occupation successful 2018, is said to person impressed during discussions – and will now get nan chance to lead nan broadside successful qualification for nan 2026 World Cup.

His first crippled arsenic Wales head will beryllium a Nations League location necktie against Turkiye connected September 6, followed by a travel to Montenegro successful September 9.

Bellamy made 78 appearances for Wales earlier retiring from world shot successful 2013, missing retired connected nan chance to play successful a awesome finals erstwhile Wales qualified nether Chris Coleman 2 years later.

He took his first steps successful coaching pinch Cardiff City’s academy earlier serving arsenic adjunct head to erstwhile Manchester City teammate Vincent Kompany astatine Anderlecht and past Burnley.

Bellamy stood successful erstwhile Kompany served a touchline prohibition past play and stepped up erstwhile nan Belgian near for Bayern Munich successful May.

But pinch Burnley opting for erstwhile Fulham and Bournemouth head Parker for nan imperishable role, it opened nan doorway for nan FAW.

Bellamy now appears fresh to return to Wales having ended his playing profession pinch hometown nine Cardiff City, helping them to promotion to nan Premier League successful 2014.

Having started his playing profession astatine Norwich, Bellamy's playing profession spanned galore of nan biggest clubs successful British football, including Newcastle, Manchester City and Liverpool, twice.

But moreover arsenic a subordinate he was keen to broaden his outlook beyond nan home crippled and erstwhile coming done nan master ranks arsenic a player, would regularly spell to watch shot connected nan continent.

While accruing plentifulness of world acquisition pinch Wales, Bellamy, who netted 19 goals for his country, was portion of nan Great Britain Olympics squad successful London successful 2012, appearing 5 times and scoring once.

Bellamy is seventh successful some nan each clip database of Wales world extremity scorers and headdress holders, and was 1 ballot awkward from beating Giggs to win Coleman for nan the nationalist job.

He had antecedently helped coach immoderate of Wales age-grade sides but, having turned down nan chance to return his first steps into frontline guidance pinch Oxford successful 2018, Bellamy’s breakthrough will travel astatine nan highest level.