Wales Football Association officials are confident that Craig Bellamy will remain as the men’s national team head coach, even as Burnley express interest in the former Liverpool and Manchester City forward.
Bellamy is considered a leading candidate for the vacant managerial position at Turf Moor, following Scott Parker’s departure after the club’s relegation from the Premier League. The 46-year-old is no stranger to Burnley, having served as assistant coach under Vincent Kompany, who now manages Bayern Munich.
Although Burnley have not formally approached the FAW, informal inquiries have been made to gauge Bellamy’s availability. However, senior figures at the FAW told BBC Sport Wales that after extensive discussions with the former Wales captain, they are convinced he will see out his contract, which runs until 2028.
A key factor is Bellamy’s desire to lead Wales at the 2028 European Championship, which will be co-hosted by Wales, England, Scotland, and the Republic of Ireland.
Bellamy signed a four-year deal in July 2024, his first senior management role. He started with an unbeaten run of nine matches, secured promotion to the top tier of the Nations League, and introduced an attacking style that earned praise. However, Wales failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, losing twice to Belgium and then falling to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the playoff semi-finals in March.
Despite enjoying the role, Bellamy has not hidden his ambition to coach at the highest level of club football. The FAW is aware of interest from other clubs beyond Burnley, but holds a safeguard: any potential suitor must pay a release clause of at least £700,000 to secure his services.
Other candidates for the Burnley job include Bellamy’s former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard and Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy.
