Craig Bellamy receives call-up for ITV's punditry team for this summer's World Cup in Russia
Daily Mail
Sunday 1st April 2018
Outspoken former Newcastle, Liverpool and Wales striker Craig Bellamy has been added to the ITV team for this summer’s World Cup.
The 38-year-old Cardiff City coach, who shone as a pundit at Euro 2016, will travel around Russia as a co-commentator with station chiefs valuing his attitude and knowledge.
ITV have already signed up Gary Neville, Glenn Hoddle, Lee Dixon and Ian Wright for their coverage as well as Ryan Giggs, who beat Bellamy to the vacant Wales manager’s job earlier this season.
Craig Bellamy has been added to ITV's punditry team for this summer's World Cup
Bellamy has started his coaching career in charge of Cardiff City under-18s and is looking to break into senior management. He was set to take over at League One Oxford United until a takeover by Thai businessman Sumrith Thanakarnjanasuth led to Karl Robinson being appointed.
The striker scored goals for a record seven different Premier League clubs – Coventry, Newcastle, Blackburn, Liverpool, West Ham, Manchester City and hometown club Cardiff.
But he equally gained a reputation for speaking his mind, something that is attractive for TV viewers.
The former Liverpool forward has featured on Sky Sports on Monday Night Football
Bellamy gained a reputation for speaking his mind, something that is attractive for TV viewers
In his autobiography GoodFellas published last year, he criticised Alan Shearer, ‘his “Big, hard Al” act wasn’t for me’, and detailed his use of a well-known sports psychologist, admitting: ‘I was using Steve Peters more than Ronnie O’Sullivan, which is saying something.’
He also has wide experience of international football, scoring 19 goals in 78 appearances for Wales and playing in the latter stages of the Champions League for Newcastle and Liverpool.
Slaven Bilic may also return to British screens at the World Cup this summer but his situation is complicated by whether he takes a manager's job for next season.
The 38-year-old Cardiff City coach will travel around Russia as a co-commentator
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