Craig Bellamy addresses his future amid links to Burnley vacancy
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Craig Bellamy has reiterated his commitment to Wales despite becoming the new favourite for the Burnley role.
The 46-year-old has today overtaken Steven Gerrard to top the betting for the Turf Moor vacancy.
But speaking today ahead of Wales’ friendly against Ghana on Tuesday night, Burnley’s former assistant insists he’s going nowhere for the next two years.
Despite the hurt of missing out on World Cup qualification, having been knocked out of the play-offs in March, Bellamy is fully focused on his current role.
“That was a new feeling and actually hurt more than I anticipated, but then suddenly family life doesn't stop,” he said. “The one-year-old is still up at six in the morning, it's get up, get on with it.
“And actually you then start looking at parts of where can we improve? Can I improve? Do I see legs in both? And then I do and I see it and that's the motivation. Then okay, let's start looking at this, let's start moving this, how can we progress this? How can we just become a better team? How can I become a better coach? How can the staff become better? How can we become a better association?
“This is nice because all I care about is improving and I was like this as a player. The moment I can't improve, trust me, that's when I stop.
“That's what I see with this team, I see improvements. I feel this team can improve and I feel I can improve as well. So, yeah, that's my motivation and that was my motivation soon after it as well.”
With a potential home Euros on the horizon in 2028, Bellamy admits he’s got extra motivation to lead Wales to a major tournament.
“Of course it is,” he added. “It's unique.
“Being a Welsh manager full stop, it's unique, you're part of a few.
“You know, people might say you're born in Cardiff, I'm born in Wales. I'm born in Cardiff, I'm born in Wales and it's always been the most important to me and I've always looked at it that way.
“So to be national team manager, and I'm sure like plenty of Welsh people also, but plenty of ex-players who have not been in this position would give anything to be in this position.
“The ones who have been in this position would want to be in this position again. It's an amazing time and I don't want to wish that away.
“The opportunity of having a home tournament, going to the Principality. I can only imagine what the streets would be like leading into it.
“I know you're going to ask questions, but I think we know it. We know it. Hopefully I do a good enough job in these two years that I don't get sacked and that I'm still able to do it.”
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Burnley aren’t the only club to be linked with Bellamy’s services, with his former side Celtic also said to be admirers.
On the topic of club football, Bellamy admits he misses the day-to-day nature and it is something he sees in his future.
“Look, I miss it every day,” he added.
“I miss not being able to do this every single day, of course. But I knew what I was coming into as well.
“The relationship I have with Noel [Mooney, FAW CEO] is really, really strong. We speak every day, so we never hide anything as well. I'm completely open and honest with him. He knows exactly how I feel. Any interest, he knows exactly first-hand.
“To me, the most important thing is when that day does come [when he leaves], is it a situation that's going to allow me to become successful? Is it going to have everything in place to allow me to be there? And at this present time, I have that here. Everything's in place. I get completely backed and it's going to give me the opportunity of hopefully in the next two years to improve again.
“The situation after that, we'll see. Links now, I don't know. I understand it, but I don't look too far into it. That's the honest truth. I love what I have here.
“I hope you're reasonably happy with me and I hope fans are reasonably happy with me. I'm not going to please everyone. I'm not going to be everyone's cup of tea. I do understand that.
“I'm sorry if I pick certain players at certain times. I'm never going to please everyone, but that's the great part of the game.
“That's the responsibility of when you do this as well, so I'm fully focused on the next two years.”
Bellamy added: “I don't need anything else. That'll come at another time and then we'll have a different discussion then.
“But I think four years is about right. I don't think a manager should be longer than that in international football. It will be someone else's turn in two years' time.
“I’m not going anywhere, I’ve got another two years.
“I am ambitious though, trust me. I want to earn loads of money, but now is not that time.”
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