Craig Bellamy facts for kids
Bellamy attending a Cardiff City match in 2014
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Craig Douglas Bellamy | ||
| Date of birth | 13 July 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Cardiff, Wales | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
|
Current team
|
Wales (head coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1988–1990 | Bristol Rovers | ||
| 1990–1996 | Norwich City | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996–2000 | Norwich City | 84 | (32) |
| 2000–2001 | Coventry City | 34 | (6) |
| 2001–2005 | Newcastle United | 93 | (28) |
| 2005 | → Celtic (loan) | 12 | (7) |
| 2005–2006 | Blackburn Rovers | 27 | (13) |
| 2006–2007 | Liverpool | 27 | (7) |
| 2007–2009 | West Ham United | 24 | (7) |
| 2009–2011 | Manchester City | 40 | (12) |
| 2010–2011 | → Cardiff City (loan) | 35 | (11) |
| 2011–2012 | Liverpool | 27 | (6) |
| 2012–2014 | Cardiff City | 55 | (6) |
| Total | 458 | (135) | |
| International career | |||
| 1995–1997 | Wales U18 | 9 | (6) |
| 1997–1998 | Wales U21 | 8 | (1) |
| 1998–2013 | Wales | 78 | (19) |
| 2012 | Great Britain Olympic | 5 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2024– | Wales | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Craig Douglas Bellamy (born 13 July 1979) is a Welsh football coach and former professional footballer. He played as a forward and is now the head coach of the Wales national team.
Born in Cardiff, Bellamy started his professional career with Norwich City in 1996. He later joined Premier League team Coventry City in 2000, setting a new club record for transfer fees. After one season, he moved to Newcastle United where he helped the team finish in the top four twice. In 2005, he had a loan spell at Celtic and won the Scottish Cup.
Bellamy then played for Blackburn Rovers and Liverpool, helping Liverpool reach the 2007 UEFA Champions League final. He joined West Ham United in 2007 and then Manchester City in 2009. For the 2010–11 season, Bellamy played for his hometown club, Cardiff City, on loan. He returned to Liverpool, winning the 2011–12 League Cup, before rejoining Cardiff City permanently in 2012. He helped Cardiff reach the Premier League and retired from playing in 2014.
Bellamy played for Wales at different youth levels before making his senior debut in 1998 at age 18. He earned 78 caps for Wales and scored 19 goals. He was the team's captain from 2007 to 2011. He also played for the Great Britain Olympic team at the 2012 London Olympics.
Bellamy was known for his strong personality and passion on the field. Outside of football, he has supported several charities and started his own organization, The Craig Bellamy Foundation, in Sierra Leone. This foundation helped provide schooling and football coaching to children who needed it most.
Contents
Early Life and Football Dreams
Craig Douglas Bellamy was born on 13 July 1979 in Cardiff, Wales. He was the second of three boys. His family lived in a working-class area of the city. Craig's mother worked as a cleaner, and his father worked at a steel plant nearby.
Craig had asthma as a child and often visited the hospital for his condition. When he was five, his family moved to Trowbridge, a council estate.
His father loved football and supported Cardiff City. Craig's first experience watching professional football was a match between Cardiff and Newport County in 1987. Craig quickly became very interested in football. He often went to Cardiff City matches and played in a park with his older brother and friends. Playing against older children helped him become a better player quickly.
He joined his school football team at age seven. Local team Pentwyn Dynamo noticed him but thought he was too small. His father offered to form a team if Craig could find enough players. Soon, the under-10s team of Caer Castell FC was created, and Craig scored all four goals in their first game. He was also chosen to play for Cardiff Schools and a Cardiff and District team. He attended Rumney High School but left without any GCSEs.
As a teenager, Craig faced some challenges. By age 14, he was barely attending school. However, meeting his future wife, Claire, helped him focus and become more determined to succeed in football.
Club Career Highlights
Starting Out: Bristol Rovers and Norwich City
Craig joined Bristol Rovers at nine years old after being spotted by a former professional player. He spent two years there before a scout from Norwich City noticed him. Norwich invited Craig for a trial and then to play in the Dana Cup, an international youth tournament in Denmark. His good performances earned him a permanent spot with Norwich's youth team.
At 15, Craig moved away from Cardiff to start his youth apprenticeship with Norwich. His first year away was tough, and he often felt homesick. He signed his first professional contract with Norwich at 16, earning £250 a week.
He made his professional debut for Norwich on 15 March 1997, at 17, as a substitute in a match against Crystal Palace. He scored his first senior goal on 1 November 1997, in a 2–2 draw with Bury. In his first full season, he scored 13 goals in 38 games, mostly playing as a central midfielder.
In 1998, Bruce Rioch became Norwich manager and moved Craig from midfield to attack. This change worked immediately, and Craig scored seven goals in his first eight league games, including his first hat-trick on 22 August 1998. He signed a new five-year contract.
In December 1998, Craig suffered a knee injury that kept him out for two months. He continued to have knee problems but finished the season with 19 goals. Before the next season, he ruptured his cruciate ligaments, which meant he was out for six to eight months. He returned in April 2000.
Moving On: Coventry City and Newcastle United
Coventry City offered a club-record £6 million to sign Craig, which Norwich accepted. Craig was unsure about joining Coventry but eventually agreed. He became Coventry's most expensive signing on 16 August 2000.
He made his Premier League debut on the first day of the 2000–01 season. Coventry was relegated at the end of the season. Craig scored eight goals in 39 games for Coventry. He later said he didn't enjoy his time there.
Coventry then sold Craig to Newcastle United for £6.5 million. Newcastle manager Bobby Robson described Craig as "a great player wrapped round an unusual and passionate character." Craig made his Newcastle debut in the UEFA Intertoto Cup and scored his first Premier League goal for them against Sunderland. He scored a hat-trick in the League Cup against Brentford.
Under Robson, Craig formed a strong partnership with Alan Shearer. In his first season, Craig scored 14 goals and won the PFA Young Player of the Year award. He faced some injury problems and disagreements during his time at Newcastle, especially after Graeme Souness became manager. Craig left Newcastle in January 2005, having scored 42 goals in 128 appearances.
Loan to Celtic and Blackburn Rovers
On 31 January 2005, Craig joined Scottish Premier League team Celtic on loan. He scored his first goal for Celtic in the Scottish Cup. He scored a hat-trick against Dundee United and the winning goal against rivals Rangers. His loan ended with Celtic winning the 2005 Scottish Cup Final, which was Craig's first major trophy. He scored 19 goals in total that season for both Newcastle and Celtic.
Celtic wanted to sign him permanently, but couldn't afford him. Craig then signed for Blackburn Rovers, managed by his former Wales coach Mark Hughes. He scored 17 goals for Rovers in the 2005–06 season, including 11 in the Premier League. Blackburn finished sixth, qualifying for the 2006–07 UEFA Cup. Craig was named Blackburn's Player of the Year.
Liverpool and West Ham United
On 20 June 2006, Craig joined Liverpool for £6 million. As a childhood fan, he called the move "like a dream." He scored on his debut for Liverpool in a Champions League qualifying match.
In February 2007, Craig had a disagreement with teammate John Arne Riise during a training session. He was fined by the club. In the next match against Barcelona, he celebrated his goal by pretending to swing a golf club, referencing the incident. Liverpool reached the Champions League final but lost to A.C. Milan.
Craig moved to West Ham United on 10 July 2007 for a club-record fee of £7.5 million. His time there was affected by injuries, including arthritis that needed surgery. In January 2009, he became the subject of a bidding war between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.
Manchester City and Cardiff City Loan
On 19 January 2009, Craig joined Manchester City for around £14 million, reuniting with manager Mark Hughes. He scored on his debut against Newcastle United. He also scored twice against FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Cup. Craig sometimes had disagreements with other players and staff at Manchester City.
In August 2010, Craig was left out of Manchester City's main squad. He then joined his hometown club, Cardiff City, on a season-long loan. Cardiff manager Dave Jones made him team captain. He scored on his debut for Cardiff with a long-range free kick.
Craig's influence was key in Cardiff's push for promotion. He scored the winning goal in the South Wales derby against Swansea City. He hired a personal fitness coach to help manage his knee issues. Cardiff reached the play-offs but lost to Reading. Craig wanted to stay with Cardiff to help them reach the Premier League.
Return to Liverpool and Cardiff City
Craig returned to Liverpool in August 2011. He scored his first goal back against Brighton & Hove Albion in the League Cup. In November, he was very emotional after the sad passing of his friend and former coach, Gary Speed. Craig sought help from a psychologist to deal with his feelings.
He played an important role for Liverpool, helping them win the League Cup and reach the FA Cup final.
In August 2012, Craig completed a free transfer back to Cardiff City on a two-year deal. He wanted to be closer to his children after his marriage ended. He helped Cardiff achieve promotion to the Premier League for the first time in 52 years. Craig was very emotional on the pitch, calling it "an impossible dream."
On 1 February 2014, Craig scored his first Premier League goal of the season against Norwich City. This made him the first player to score for seven different clubs in the Premier League. He played 22 league games that season.
Craig retired from football on 22 May 2014. He explained that constant pain from injuries meant his body could not take any more.
International Career
Playing for Wales
Craig first played for Wales at schoolboy level in 1994. He moved up through the under-17 and under-18 teams. At 16, he became the youngest player to represent the under-21 side.
He made his senior international debut for Wales on 25 March 1998, at age 18, in a friendly game against Jamaica. He scored his first international goal on 3 June 1998, in a 3–0 win against Malta.
Under manager Mark Hughes, Wales' performance improved. They had a strong qualifying campaign for UEFA Euro 2004. Craig scored the winning goal in a big match against Italy in October 2002. Wales reached a play-off match against Russia for a spot in the finals, but Craig missed both games due to injury, and Wales lost.
Captaincy and Retirement
In October 2006, Craig was given the captain's armband for Wales when Ryan Giggs was unavailable. He scored and assisted goals in his early games as captain. When Giggs retired from international football in June 2007, Craig was named permanent captain.
In December 2010, Gary Speed, Craig's former teammate, became manager of Wales. Craig had planned to retire from international football due to his knee problems, but Speed convinced him to continue. Craig decided to step down as captain, and Aaron Ramsey took over. Craig continued to play for Wales under new manager Chris Coleman before announcing his retirement from international football in October 2013. His final match for Wales was a 1–1 draw against Belgium. He finished his international career with 78 caps and 19 goals.
Great Britain Olympic Team
In June 2012, Craig was chosen as one of the older players for the Great Britain team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. On 26 July, he scored Great Britain's first goal at an Olympic Games since 1960.
He helped set up a goal in a 3–1 victory over the United Arab Emirates. He was named captain for the final group game, which Great Britain won 1–0 against Uruguay. Great Britain reached the quarter-finals but were eliminated after losing a penalty shootout to South Korea.
Playing Style
Craig Bellamy was known for his fast and energetic playing style. He started as a central midfielder but moved to attacking roles, playing as both a winger and a centre-forward. He liked playing counter-attacking football because his speed allowed him to get behind defenders.
His former manager Mark Hughes praised Craig's "intensity" and "desire to affect the game." He said that if you understood Craig, he would play with all his heart. Craig's pace and good finishing ability made him a strong attacking player.
While sometimes seen as a challenging player, former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said he was surprised by how professional Craig was and how much he loved the game. Craig's career was often affected by injuries, which limited his training and playing time. Even as he got older, he was praised for his leadership, energy, and high standards.
Coaching Career
After retiring from playing, Craig returned to Cardiff as an academy coach on a voluntary basis. In 2016, he became Cardiff's player development manager, overseeing youth teams. He was considered for the Wales manager job and for a position at EFL League One club Oxford United. He stepped down from his Cardiff coaching role in January 2019 after an internal investigation into an "unacceptable coaching environment," for which he issued an apology.
In June 2019, Craig became the under-21 team coach for Belgian side Anderlecht, working with his former Manchester City teammate Vincent Kompany. He later became an assistant coach to Kompany but stepped down in September 2021 due to mental health issues. In July 2022, he rejoined Vincent Kompany as a first-team coach at Burnley.
On 30 May 2024, after Kompany left Burnley, Craig Bellamy was appointed acting head coach. On 9 July 2024, he was officially named the head coach of the Wales national team. He became the first Wales manager to remain unbeaten in his first four matches after a victory over Montenegro in the Nations League.
Personal Life
Craig Bellamy is a big supporter of both Liverpool and Cardiff City. He met Claire Jansen in Cardiff when they were teenagers. They had their first child, a son named Ellis, when Craig was 17 and Claire was 16. They later had two more children, Cameron and Lexi.
Craig and Claire married in June 2006. Because Craig moved clubs often, the family bought a permanent home in Peterston-super-Ely, near Cardiff. His marriage ended in December 2012.
In 2013, Craig released his autobiography, GoodFella. In the book, he shared that he struggled with his feelings, especially when injuries kept him from playing football. He also faced issues with driving rules. Craig supports mixed martial arts and has sponsored fighters. He also owns a gym in Cardiff.
Charity Work
In 2007, Craig visited Sierra Leone, a country still recovering from a long civil war. He was deeply affected by the poor living conditions he saw, especially among child workers. He decided to start a charity there.
On 6 May 2008, The Craig Bellamy Foundation was announced. Craig used his own money to build a football academy in Tombo. Here, 32 boys received a good education and top-level football coaching for free. The foundation also ran a nationwide youth league with UNICEF, which provided a football framework for children and funded their school fees. All activities stopped in April 2017 due to financial issues.
Craig also supports Noah's Ark Children's Hospital for Wales in Cardiff, where he and his children were born. He became a charity champion for Noah's Ark, helping them raise money for a construction project.
Financial Challenges
In April 2023, Craig shared that he faced financial difficulties due to investments made on his behalf that did not succeed.
Honours
Celtic
- Scottish Cup: 2004–05
Liverpool
- Football League Cup: 2011–12
- FA Community Shield: 2006
- FA Cup runner-up: 2011–12
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2006–07
Cardiff City
- Football League Championship: 2012–13
Individual
- PFA Young Player of the Year Award: 2001–02
- Blackburn Rovers Player of the Season: 2005–06
- Welsh Footballer of the Year Award: 2007
- Premier League Goal of the Month: April 2006, September 2009
See also
In Spanish: Craig Bellamy para niños
