CRAIG BELLAMY TO RETIRE FROM PLAYING FOOTBALL ALL TOGETHER?

Sunday 9th September 2013

Craig Bellamy
“But the way I’m feeling now, it could be my last season in football. I have so much to look forward to after football." " Life isn't just about football. "




Craig Bellamy has hinted this could be his final season as a player after outlining compelling personal reasons why he will grudgingly step away from Wales at the end of the current World Cup campaign.

Bellamy announced in June he would be prepared to call time on his international career at the end of these qualifiers, with Belgium in Brussels next month looking set to be his last match.

And, despite a warning from manager Chris Coleman last month not to rush the decision, Bellamy, 34, has insisted that – right now at least – the need to spend more time with his family will override the desire he has to support this young team by carrying on into the 2016 European Championships.

And, in what will cause huge concern among Cardiff City supporters, he even hinted that those same factors may yet be enough for him to end his playing days completely at the end of this Premier League season.

Asked if there was a possibility of being persuaded to stay on with Wales, the 75-times capped Bellamy said: “Well my mood does change, I know I could change what I’m thinking.

“But the way I’m feeling now, it could be my last season in football. I have so much to look forward to after football.

“I’ve been playing at a professional level for 17, 18 years now and there’s more to life.

“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve cherished every moment of it.

“But life isn’t just about football. The adventure starts when you finish and I’m looking forward to that.”

Asked in the aftermath of Wales’ 2-1 defeat to Macedonia in Skopje on Friday if he wanted to play in the next campaign, an honest-as-ever Bellamy said: “I don’t think that’s going to be possible, I really don’t.

“I know I’ve said before I wouldn’t retire from international football and I really want this group to succeed.

“It’s a two-year period to qualify and not to stop now would be robbing someone else of two matches, four matches... vital experience.

“That’s the way I’m looking at it because I honestly think this side have a great chance of doing something.

“Listen, I’ve thought about it really hard but it’s difficult for me now.

“I’m a single parent and I’m having such a battle to see my kids on a daily basis; it’s so hard.

“Then, with international duty, I’m going away for 10 days to work but as far as they’re concerned I’m just off abroad having a great time in Macedonia. I’m not the only dad who has to go through it, but if you have experienced it, then you would understand.”

Bellamy – who has three children, the youngest five years old – split with wife Claire a year ago, the news going public after he had signed for his hometown club from Liverpool.

He signed a two-year deal, citing at the time the huge desire to spend more time with his children at their Cardiff home after snubbing Premier League interest and taking a cut in wages.

That contract will expire at the end of this year with Bellamy having led the Bluebirds out as captain in their first season in the modern-era top flight.

Whether he will be tempted to extend his stay at the Cardiff City Stadium remains to be seen, but it is not the first time Bellamy has stressed the urge to spend greater time with his children after a career that began with Norwich almost two decades ago.

There has been widespread speculation – fuelled by admission from Bellamy last year – the livewire forward would consider going into management and possibly become the Wales boss one day.

But while he is obviously preparing for a potential move from player to manager, Bellamy suggested he was not ready for the step just yet.

He said: “I’ve got my A licence already and I’m doing my pro-licence then.

“But after that, I’m going to travel around the world – Spain, Argentina – and learn my craft.

“I don’t just want to go in and mess about. When I go in, I’m going to be prepared and I’m going to stay in.”

He knows in himself hes not good enough for the top level anymore.

His pace was his biggest asset and hes lost a yard of that.

[quote="Mario Polotelli"]He knows in himself hes not good enough for the top level anymore.

His pace was his biggest asset and hes lost a yard of that.[/quote

Very true, you can get away with it in the C'ship, not in the prem

Im more than happy with the contribution he he made in helping deliver promotion, he certainly has my respect whatever he chooses to do.

Top player in his prime ,would have got in any premiership side,sadly he's lost his edge as an attacking threat,last season he really should have ripped championship defences to shreds,he didn't even feature in the pfa team of season,still has a lot to offer but that's for his experience

Im more than happy with the contribution he he made in helping deliver promotion, he certainly has my respect whatever he chooses to do.

Got to agree you there Gav

I remember the feeling I had when he joined us from Man City on loan - like a kid at Christmas. We've been so lucky in our timing with Bellamy in terms of our ascent and his congruent desire to move back to South Wales for quality of life and to be a key role in our aspirations. Brilliant for us in so many ways and an absolute cert for whatever he decides to do in the future. I feel he'll always have a role for City which is an incredible asset to have for the long term. He would make for an incredible Wales manager when he is ready. Love his attitude and watching him play - I really hope he plays for us as long as possible. Bellamy is the real deal.

I would love him to retire from playing with us by keeping us up so I'll be happy. I think he's just being honest with himself as Polo has pointed out and he has lost that yard and is no longer the threat he once was.

I think he was ready to retire before this season. But he stuck to his promise to help get City promoted and came back to finish the job. Think it would be a really great way to end his playing career, playing for Cardiff in the PL and (hopefully) keeping us up.

Sounds familiar.

Not fast enough to be a winger anymore and not clinical enough to be a striker. Hopefully he can get a coaching job either here or somewhere else and learn his trade, he seems really interested in wanting to become a manager so I wish him all the best.

I hope Cardiff city offer him a coaching role when he retires from playing.
we need his motivation with the up and coming young players at the club.

CB has still got something to offer from the bench. There is no way he can do 90 minutes at full pace but I certainly believe he could come on late in games and really influence things.

Maybe the tracking back and all the running around over the last couple of years has taken it out of him; I wish he could get forward a bit more and play the game he's known for, whilst on the pitch for us...

When he retires I hope we can get some kind of coaching role at the club, So much experience, good work ethic and passion would be a good addition to the coaching staff already here.

When he retires I hope we can get some kind of coaching role at the club, So much experience, good work ethic and passion would be a good addition to the coaching staff already here.

Think he will give it a few years before rushing into it.

Fairplay to him, open and honest.

Don't think many of us can fault what he done.

More evidence last night that hes lost it at the highest level.

Getting ready to go ....told you here weeks ago he's going to New York in january

Getting ready to go ....told you here weeks ago he's going to New York in january

doesnt he mention time away from his kids as a reason for packing it in?


Cant see him going to America somehow.