Five things to expect from new Wales boss Bellamy

Craig Bellamy scored 19 goals for Wales

Craig Bellamy has secured his "ultimate" dream job - as manager of Wales.

The 44-year-old turned down the chance to continue his coaching role at Burnley to step up to his first number one position.

A formidable top-flight player with Liverpool, Newcastle United, West Ham United and others, Bellamy felt this was an opportunity he just could not pass up.

So, as he assembles the staff he wants around him and begins a four-year contract with the next World Cup and Euros in his sights, what is in store for the Wales national team and supporters in the Red Wall?

Rob Phillips, the BBC Wales Football Correspondent, anticipates five things we can expect from Bellamy as boss.

Passion

The P-word could almost be his middle name. It's always been an indelible part of his DNA.

On his appointment Bellamy said he was "passionate to bring continued success into Welsh football".

After Bellamy's departure from Burnley, Clarets chairman Alan Pace said he had always admired the former striker's "leadership, knowledge and passion".

And at his unveiling, Dr David Adams, the Football Association of Wales' chief football officer – and the man who led the global search for a successor to Rob Page - talked of Bellamy's "passion for the game and passion for Wales".

That passion oozed from every pore when pulling on a shirt for any one of his clubs or country, for whom he won 78 caps.

Wales' Red Wall know all about him. As his possible appointment went viral last Monday night, there were overwhelming references to his "passion".

Of course, that element and combative style could sometimes take him over the edge as a player.

He has faced questions over his temperament this week with good grace and a determination to prove Bellamy the manager is different to Bellamy the player.

Yet as former Wales international Iwan Roberts and a team-mate of a young Bellamy at Norwich City told BBC Wales’ Feast of Football podcast: "I don't mind at times if a little bit of the old Craig Bellamy comes out."

Preparation is everything

You want preparation. Bellamy does preparation – and how.

His first opponents will be Euro 2024 quarter finalists Turkey, in a Nations League tie at the Cardiff City Stadium, on 6 September.

When he sat down to meet the media this week at his inaugural press conference Bellamy admitted he had already watched Turkey eight times.

Almost apologetically, he said he had only seen Montenegro – Wales' opponents three days after Turkey – a couple of times.

Before his press day he had also studied detailed analysis of the players he has inherited in the national team.

His one concern over stepping out of a day-to-day club environment was how he would fill his time during the natural breaks in the international calendar.

Bellamy admitted: "I cannot be not working. So we have worked out a plan of action so I am constantly on analysis, constantly reviewing games, constantly looking at different training ideas."

Wales may not win every game – but that won't be for a lack of preparation on Bellamy's part.

Bold approach

According to Bellamy, football is not about systems, it's about shapes.

But his overriding ambition for the national team is to play on the "front foot".

It's fair to say much of Wales' success from Euro 2016 onwards has been built on keeping clean sheets and looking to Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey to provide match-winning magic at the other end of the pitch.

There is no Bale now, although Ramsey – providing he can get himself fit after a 2023-24 campaign ruined by injury woes – is still there.

But Wales have to be more creative now, especially in attacking situations. Bale could conjure golden moments out of nothing - goals have been harder to come by since his retirement.

The main criticism of Rob Page's tenure was his in-game management, sometimes failing to react quickly enough to rivals' tactical tweaks in the heat of battle.

Bellamy will be expected to be better in that department - and that would involve being bold, just as he was as a player.

You would expect, too, that he would make use of the players with whom he could be compared as a player.

Wales do not lack the pace, explosive qualities or guile which Bellamy had in abundance. Brennan Johnson, Daniel James, Harry Wilson and David Brooks should be right up his street.

Kieffer Moore is there, too, for a more direct option, which Bellamy will not ignore.

Young guns

An integral part of Bellamy’s coaching background has been helping to hone talented youngsters.

He had Rubin Colwill under his charge when he was part of the Cardiff City academy. At Anderlecht he coached a 16-year-old, who has since starred for Manchester City and Belgium, in Jeremy Doku.

As a Wales captain, Bellamy was a champion for youngsters coming through the ranks. It wasn't for the want of his trying, but Bellamy was among those famed Wales internationals – Ryan Giggs, Ian Rush, Neville Southall, Kevin Ratcliffe and John Hartson to name a few – who did not qualify for a major tournament finals with their country.

Yet when he played, he saw Bale, Ramsey, Ashley Williams, Chris Gunter and James Collins coming through.

Bellamy always counselled, that given time, these talents would help Wales qualify for a major tournament. They duly obliged in 2016 – a little less than three years after he had retired. His judgement, though, had proved correct.

He will be excited at the prospect of helping develop Wales hopefuls such as Liverpool's Lewis Koumas and enhancing the international career of Birmingham City midfielder Jordan James, already a regular in the national team.

Bellamy has also already shown an interest in the younger age-group Wales squads and referenced the under-17s in his media interviews.

"If they are good enough they will be involved," he said.

A homecoming

It's five years since Bellamy lived in the country of his birth.

On leaving the Cardiff City Academy he joined Anderlecht initially as under-21s coach under Vincent Kompany and then Burnley, but will return now.

Cardiff born and bred, Bellamy said he always felt "at home" in Burnley.

But he has made his stance clear in the past, Bellamy believes it's important to be based where the job is.

His hunger for football means he will be seen at plenty of games and not necessarily senior encounters.

In his eyes football must not become "elitist". To Bellamy, football can encourage habits which can be observed in all parts of life.

When they rolled out the criteria they were looking for in a head coach, the FAW said: "The Cymru National Teams are pivotal to and embedded within Welsh culture, language, history and life."

Squad announcements are taken around the nation, often made at a cultural Welsh venue or events such as an Eisteddfod.

Bellamy will be expected to continue and raise awareness of this approach which in recent years has helped evolve Wales international games to become cultural occasions; a symbol of national pride and passion for the country.

That word "passion" again. Bellamy displayed it as a player. He's experienced it as a "fan" in the Red Wall. Now he will live it as a manager.