" MALKY MACKAY & CRAIG BELLAMY "

Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay urges Craig Bellamy not to quit football
11th Sep 2013

The Bluebirds boss is hopeful Bellamy will decide not to call time on his career at the end of the current campaign after the player revealed it was a very real consideration



Cardiff City boss Malky Mackay has urged Craig Bellamy to delay making a decision about his footballing future until the end of the season.

The man Mackay has made Bluebirds captain in the Premier League admitted this week that he was considering retiring from the game completely at the end of this campaign.

The 34-year-old frontman , who has enjoyed a long career at the very top of the game, has already said he will quit international football at the end of Wales’ current World Cup qualification campaign next month.

But now, after suffering a number of serious injuries down the years, Bellamy has also questioned whether he still has the appetite to remain in the game at all.

But Mackay said his skipper should not rush into anything and needed to reconsider his options at the end of the Cardiff’s current top-flight campaign.

He believes Bellamy is yet to make a definite decision about his future and the Bluebirds boss pointed to veteran players down the years who had talked about retiring only to carry on.




“I think the remarks from Craig about retiring from football have been made quite casually right now,” said Mackay.

“I don’t think he’s definitely made up his mind yet and that is a good thing . He has said he will retire from international football to spend more time with his family and everyone respects that after what he has given for Wales.

“I think with football in general though he has got to that point in his career when you do reflect upon things. You start to wonder what the future holds for you outside of playing. I had that very much myself too.

“You start to wonder if physically you’re up to it as well and you do get curious about life outside of playing and what that might hold.

“But I think Craig has got time to consider that at the end of the season and make a decision.

“Anyway a lot of people say they are going to retire and carry on. Look at Kevin Phillips, every year there’s talk of him stopping, but he carries on.

“Craig’s got plenty of time to make the right decision for him and his family without rushing into anything.”

Bellamy overtook Dean Saunders to become the third most capped player in Welsh history when he made his 76th appearance for his country against Serbia on Tuesday.

Mackay was reacting to comments Bellamy made after Wales defeat in Macedonia last week when the frontman said: “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.”

More immediately though Bellamy’s services on the pitch will be very much required when he leads Cardiff out at the KC Stadium on Saturday for the Bluebirds’ clash with Hull.

With club captain Mark Hudson now unable to hold down a first team place, Bellamy has been handed the Bluebirds armband.

It is a big season for Bellamy who has declared that helping get his hometown club into the Premier League was perhaps the proudest moments in a career which has seen him play at the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle and West Ham.

Bellamy first joined the Bluebirds on loan from Manchester City for the 2010-11 season, but under then manager Dave Jones the club stumbled in the Championship play-offs.

After a season back at Liverpool he rejoined Cardiff on a two-year deal in August 2012 and helped Mackay’s side to the Championship title and into the top-flight of the game for the first time in more than half a century.

Bellamy, known down the years for his electric burst of pace, admitted recently that as he got older he was having to adapt his game.

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Look who's photo bombing in the back.

#staysteaming

Look who's photo bombing in the back.

#staysteaming

No Malky let him retire, he has absolutely f**k all to offer as a player now and is one of the highest paid players at this club when he clearly doesn't deserve it. He is a hasbeen.

No Malky let him retire, he has absolutely f**k all to offer as a player now and is one of the highest paid players at this club when he clearly doesn't deserve it. He is a hasbeen.

You seem like a nice bloke.

Offer him a player coach role next season. Even as he starts to wain on the field, his presence and leadership is something that has helped the team time after time. He has the ability to get the players fired up and his passion is not something I would want to lose even if he is replaceable on the field.

No Malky let him retire, he has absolutely f**k all to offer as a player now and is one of the highest paid players at this club when he clearly doesn't deserve it. He is a hasbeen.

IDIOT ALERT

No Malky let him retire, he has absolutely f**k all to offer as a player now and is one of the highest paid players at this club when he clearly doesn't deserve it. He is a hasbeen.

Get bent mate

No Malky let him retire, he has absolutely f**k all to offer as a player now and is one of the highest paid players at this club when he clearly doesn't deserve it. He is a hasbeen.

What a stupid post

No Malky let him retire, he has absolutely f**k all to offer as a player now and is one of the highest paid players at this club when he clearly doesn't deserve it. He is a hasbeen.

Oh dear me, this is just what sums up someone that knows fuckall about football
ffs you can't make this shit up
You are embarrassing fella

I hope he doesn't retire, he's a massive part of our squad. His no nonsense attitude and professionalism is next to none.

CB39! BLUEBIRD LEGEND.

No Malky let him retire, he has absolutely f**k all to offer as a player now and is one of the highest paid players at this club when he clearly doesn't deserve it. He is a hasbeen.

T W A T

No Malky let him retire, he has absolutely f**k all to offer as a player now and is one of the highest paid players at this club when he clearly doesn't deserve it. He is a hasbeen.

T W A T

No Malky let him retire, he has absolutely f**k all to offer as a player now and is one of the highest paid players at this club when he clearly doesn't deserve it. He is a hasbeen.

T W A T

Loads of replies defending the Liverpool fan who claims to be the hometown hero attention that he constantly craves. He's on 35k a week yet was poor last season and doesn't look like improving this season. We're not a charity, we're a business, why pay an underperforming employee. I hope it is his last season.

Loads of replies defending the Liverpool fan who claims to be the hometown hero attention that he constantly craves. He's on 35k a week yet was poor last season and doesn't look like improving this season. We're not a charity, we're a business, why pay an underperforming employee. I hope it is his last season.

How was he poor last season, clearly NEVER watched any games last year

No Malky let him retire, he has absolutely f**k all to offer as a player now and is one of the highest paid players at this club when he clearly doesn't deserve it. He is a hasbeen.

You seem like a nice bloke.

what an utter pillock why dont you get off from behind your computer and give a better job on the pitch? instead of calling one of our best ever home grown payers a has been and a waste of money.

besides what bellamy brings to the dressing room he is one of only 2 or 3 players we have in this squad capable of turning a match on its head in a matter of minutes.

whitts is one and cambell possible another on his day.