Craig Bellamy Looks to Future in Management
Mon Nov 11, 2013 9:41 pm
Cardiff City star Craig Bellamy determined to build successful management career as he waits to make decision on playing future
The Cardiff-born front man says he would be interested in managing Wales but admits that prospect is probably 'a long way off'
The Cardiff City star retired from international football last month and says he will assess his playing career at the end of this season – something he insists he does at the end of every campaign.
Bellamy has featured in nine of Cardiff’s 11 Premier League matches this season and started the last two against Swansea and Aston Villa.
But having helped his hometown club into the top flight for the first time in 51 years, the 34-year-old has to consider the future and has completed his coaching A licence while he is currently studying for his Uefa Pro licence.
“I have no fears about the future because I want to stay involved in the game and I have a lot to offer on that side,” said Bellamy.
“Being involved in that way will improve me no end as a human being and will bring out my best characteristics.
“I am looking forward to that and I want to be in the game for a long, long time - 20 to 30 years at the top level.”
Bellamy’s name has been mentioned amid the speculation surrounding Chris Coleman’s future as Wales manager.
It now looks likely that Coleman will stay on and guide Wales into the 2016 European Championship qualifiers, but Bellamy stressed that he would like to manage his country one day.
“That’s a job I would take seriously and something I would like to do – but who knows when?” he said.
“It would be foolish to rule it out. I believe in opportunities and sensing the right time to do something.
“If it’s not right you don’t do it.
“The key is being clever enough to know when it’s the right time to address the situation.
“I don’t plan on that right now. It’s more talk than something I think will happen.”
Bellamy has been playing professional football for almost half of his life but says he will not be hasty over his future plans.
“I am not going to rush into anything, I won’t dive in,” he said.
“I like to think I am clever enough not to rush in because I don’t need the work.
“I don’t need to go in straightaway and decide I have to take any opportunity, no matter what it is.
“I have been extremely fortunate in my career and don’t need to work straight after football.
“That gives me an extra motivation to take my time, decide when the time is right and look at it in detail.”
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay ended his playing career in his mid-30s, having moved into a player-coach role with Watford before being appointed caretaker-manager at Vicarage Road.
After leaving West Ham, Mackay spent three years as a player at Watford in the Championship and Premier LeagueMackay playing for Watford
Bellamy and Mackay have talked about the move from playing into coaching and the advice has been clear and concise.
“Whether Craig will be a good manager or not will be up to him,” said Mackay.
“But he does need to go through his seven years of study that you must do, rather than cut corners.
“By doing that you give yourself the best chance of success.
“It’s important to do the Uefa Pro Licence and study hard, study the best coaches in the world.
“When I did the Scottish Pro Licence we had 25 guest speakers in a year-and-a-half, a lot of men experienced in different fields.
“You must give yourself the best chance you can because when you do stand there as a manager you are judged from the very first moment and it can go wrong quickly.
“There’s a lot of first-time managers who, if they lose their job in the first nine months, never get a job again.”
Bellamy has played under many leading managers including Sir Bobby Robson and Graeme Souness (Newcastle), Mark Hughes (Blackburn, Manchester City and Wales) and Rafa Benitez and Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool) and many observers might simply typecast him as hot-head incapable of making the transition from pitch to dug-out.
But that would be too simplistic as Bellamy possesses a sharp football brain and is an astute student of the game.
“I don’t know what sort of manager I will be,” he said. “I can be very relaxed and calm about situations and few things faze me.
“I will also work day and night because I enjoy it. Working in football is not a chore to me whatsoever.
“I have an idea on how I would like to go about things, but I don’t want to give away too many secrets because it’s probably a long way off.”
The Cardiff-born front man says he would be interested in managing Wales but admits that prospect is probably 'a long way off'
The Cardiff City star retired from international football last month and says he will assess his playing career at the end of this season – something he insists he does at the end of every campaign.
Bellamy has featured in nine of Cardiff’s 11 Premier League matches this season and started the last two against Swansea and Aston Villa.
But having helped his hometown club into the top flight for the first time in 51 years, the 34-year-old has to consider the future and has completed his coaching A licence while he is currently studying for his Uefa Pro licence.
“I have no fears about the future because I want to stay involved in the game and I have a lot to offer on that side,” said Bellamy.
“Being involved in that way will improve me no end as a human being and will bring out my best characteristics.
“I am looking forward to that and I want to be in the game for a long, long time - 20 to 30 years at the top level.”
Bellamy’s name has been mentioned amid the speculation surrounding Chris Coleman’s future as Wales manager.
It now looks likely that Coleman will stay on and guide Wales into the 2016 European Championship qualifiers, but Bellamy stressed that he would like to manage his country one day.
“That’s a job I would take seriously and something I would like to do – but who knows when?” he said.
“It would be foolish to rule it out. I believe in opportunities and sensing the right time to do something.
“If it’s not right you don’t do it.
“The key is being clever enough to know when it’s the right time to address the situation.
“I don’t plan on that right now. It’s more talk than something I think will happen.”
Bellamy has been playing professional football for almost half of his life but says he will not be hasty over his future plans.
“I am not going to rush into anything, I won’t dive in,” he said.
“I like to think I am clever enough not to rush in because I don’t need the work.
“I don’t need to go in straightaway and decide I have to take any opportunity, no matter what it is.
“I have been extremely fortunate in my career and don’t need to work straight after football.
“That gives me an extra motivation to take my time, decide when the time is right and look at it in detail.”
Cardiff manager Malky Mackay ended his playing career in his mid-30s, having moved into a player-coach role with Watford before being appointed caretaker-manager at Vicarage Road.
After leaving West Ham, Mackay spent three years as a player at Watford in the Championship and Premier LeagueMackay playing for Watford
Bellamy and Mackay have talked about the move from playing into coaching and the advice has been clear and concise.
“Whether Craig will be a good manager or not will be up to him,” said Mackay.
“But he does need to go through his seven years of study that you must do, rather than cut corners.
“By doing that you give yourself the best chance of success.
“It’s important to do the Uefa Pro Licence and study hard, study the best coaches in the world.
“When I did the Scottish Pro Licence we had 25 guest speakers in a year-and-a-half, a lot of men experienced in different fields.
“You must give yourself the best chance you can because when you do stand there as a manager you are judged from the very first moment and it can go wrong quickly.
“There’s a lot of first-time managers who, if they lose their job in the first nine months, never get a job again.”
Bellamy has played under many leading managers including Sir Bobby Robson and Graeme Souness (Newcastle), Mark Hughes (Blackburn, Manchester City and Wales) and Rafa Benitez and Kenny Dalglish (Liverpool) and many observers might simply typecast him as hot-head incapable of making the transition from pitch to dug-out.
But that would be too simplistic as Bellamy possesses a sharp football brain and is an astute student of the game.
“I don’t know what sort of manager I will be,” he said. “I can be very relaxed and calm about situations and few things faze me.
“I will also work day and night because I enjoy it. Working in football is not a chore to me whatsoever.
“I have an idea on how I would like to go about things, but I don’t want to give away too many secrets because it’s probably a long way off.”
Re: Craig Bellamy Looks to Future in Management
Mon Nov 11, 2013 10:15 pm
Bellers will come a top manager I thinks
Re: Craig Bellamy Looks to Future in Management
Mon Nov 11, 2013 10:47 pm
Personally I dont see Bells as management material, great footballer and leader on the pitch, but his temper and fallings out with other people in the game will not help him in the future.
Re: Craig Bellamy Looks to Future in Management
Tue Nov 12, 2013 7:40 am
Brilliant player but starting to look like his legs are on the way out, can't remember the last time he scored?
Re: Craig Bellamy Looks to Future in Management
Tue Nov 12, 2013 8:28 am
Forever Blue wrote:Personally I dont see Bells as management material, great footballer and leader on the pitch, but his temper and fallings out with other people in the game will not help him in the future.
I'm with you, I put him in the Roy Kean, Di Canio envelope, Would loved to proved wrong and he makes a great manager for Cardiff or Wales though
Re: Craig Bellamy Looks to Future in Management
Tue Nov 12, 2013 9:48 am
Leytonstoneblue wrote:Forever Blue wrote:Personally I dont see Bells as management material, great footballer and leader on the pitch, but his temper and fallings out with other people in the game will not help him in the future.
I'm with you, I put him in the Roy Kean, Di Canio envelope, Would loved to proved wrong and he makes a great manager for Cardiff or Wales though
That's what I was thinking. Although I believe he is better than them (hopefully). Only time will tell, but I would like to see him given a go especially for Wales.
Re: Craig Bellamy Looks to Future in Management
Tue Nov 12, 2013 5:01 pm
Forever Blue wrote:Personally I dont see Bells as management material, great footballer and leader on the pitch, but his temper and fallings out with other people in the game will not help him in the future.
You never know Annis, he could be the Welsh Mourinho.
