New boss Bellamy 'hadn't realised attachment' to Wales

Newly-appointed Wales head Craig Bellamy says he had not realised nan "emotional attachment" he had to his state until taking nan job.

Bellamy, 44, was announced arsenic nan successor to Rob Page connected Tuesday, leaving his domiciled astatine Burnley to negociate his nationalist team.

The erstwhile guardant won 78 Wales caps during his career, scoring 19 goals, which ranks arsenic seventh champion for nan world men's team.

Despite his agelong world profession and spells playing for hometown nine Cardiff City, Bellamy said his feelings for Wales person "come backmost moreover stronger".

"I didn’t realise really important it was to me," said Bellamy. "Maybe it was because I’d been surviving successful England and Belgium.

"I hadn’t forgotten, I’ve ever followed Wales, but I hadn’t realised nan affectional attachment I had to it.

"I wasn’t judge if it was thing I wanted to do, I’m not present for financial reasons, but for maine it was nan affectional attachment to it.

"The much I sewage progressive it became clear to maine and it was thing I wanted to do.

"It hasn’t near me, I thought it had, but it’s travel backmost moreover stronger.

"This wasn’t astir progressing, this was rooted successful maine and I didn’t cognize it was there. I thought I’d parked it."

Bellamy played for immoderate of nan Premier League's biggest clubs: Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle United.

After retiring from playing, he worked pinch nan academies astatine Cardiff City and Belgian giants Anderlecht, earlier joining Burnley arsenic nan adjunct to Vincent Kompany.

There, Bellamy knowledgeable 2 contrasting seasons, pinch Burnley dominating nan Championship successful 2022-23 earlier picking up conscionable 5 wins successful nan Premier League past season.

Bellamy said nan play successful nan Premier League was much valuable to him arsenic a coach, contempt really overmuch he "hates losing".

“For maine it’s not winning, I dislike losing, and location is simply a large difference," said Bellamy.

"I judge if you springiness everything you got, not conscionable successful shot but successful life, and you effort to beryllium nan champion you can, that’s winning.

“If I don’t hole and don’t put nan effort successful and you lose, that’s thing I really struggle with.

“I’ve conscionable had 2 seasons astatine Burnley, nan first play winning beautiful overmuch each week and past going to nan Premier League and losing astir weeks.

"I’ve seen nan level of really overmuch you learn, and you study much erstwhile you’re losing.

"You must enactment calm done it each and that’s thing I’ve really picked up on nan way.”

During his playing career, Bellamy was ne'er 1 to mince his words aliases propulsion his punches.

His determination connected nan section was matched only by his activity ethic disconnected it, but his temperament was astatine times called into questions.

Bellamy had good documented clashes pinch Graeme Souness and John Arne Riise during his career.

And now successful his first imperishable caput coaching role, Bellamy said he understands that location will beryllium mobility marks surrounding his appointment.

"I understand nan perception, inexperience will ever beryllium thrown towards me, and temperament will beryllium used," said Bellamy.

"Hopefully aft a fewer months aliases a mates of years you’ll person a bully knowing that nan temperament is good now and I'll person experience, hopefully that will dismisses it.

“It’s important maine for maine that I disregard that.

"I’m not perfect, I’ve not travel crossed anyone who is, but everything I’ve done I’ve owned.

"I’ve ne'er shied distant from immoderate correction I’ve made, I’ll admit it and beryllium honorable and open.

"I want to beryllium nan champion personification I tin be, I’m still striving for that, it’s a existent burning desire."