Craig Bellamy was never the quiet type. A fiery striker with a blistering pace and an even hotter temper, he spent 18 years unsettling Premier League defences and occasionally his own teammates. Now, as head coach of Wales, Bellamy is trying to rewrite his narrative — this guide traces his journey from Cardiff prodigy to national-team boss, with the recent Burnley collapse adding fresh tension to the story.
Date of birth: 13 July 1979 ·
Height: 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) ·
Clubs played for: Liverpool, Manchester City, Newcastle United, West Ham United, and others ·
International caps (Wales): 78 ·
International goals: 19 ·
Current role: Wales national team head coach (since 2024)
Quick snapshot
- Born 13 July 1979 in Cardiff, Wales (BBC Sport)
- 78 caps and 19 goals for Wales (Transfermarkt)
- Appointed Wales head coach on 9 July 2024 (Wikipedia)
- Unbeaten in opening nine matches as Wales boss (BBC Sport)
- Exact net worth — no authoritative source confirms a figure (BBC Sport)
- Details of any new marriage after Sandra Bellamy (no reliable source confirms a remarriage) (BBC Sport)
- Specific reasons for Burnley head-coach move collapse in June 2025 (BBC Sport reports “burnt bridges”)
- Future coaching trajectory beyond Euro 2028 (BBC Sport)
- 1996: Professional debut at Norwich City (LFChistory.net)
- 2006: Signed for Liverpool (LFChistory.net)
- 2014: Retired from playing (Wikipedia)
- July 2024: Became Wales head coach (Wikipedia)
- Wales aims for Euro 2028 qualification under Bellamy’s four-year deal (BBC Sport)
- Possible managerial interest from Celtic (BBC Sport)
- Nations League top-tier status to defend after promotion (BBC Sport)
The following table distills Bellamy’s core biographical details.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Craig Douglas Bellamy |
| Date of Birth | 13 July 1979 |
| Place of Birth | Cardiff, Wales |
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) |
| Position | Forward / Winger |
| Senior Career Years | 1996–2014 |
| International Caps (Wales) | 78 |
| International Goals | 19 |
| Managerial Career Start | 2019 (assistant) |
| Current Role | Wales head coach (since 2024) |
Where and when was Craig Bellamy born?
Craig Douglas Bellamy entered the world on 13 July 1979 in Cardiff, Wales, according to BBC Sport. His full Welsh identity shaped both his playing career and his return as national-team boss decades later.
What is Craig Bellamy’s full name?
- Full name: Craig Douglas Bellamy (Wikipedia)
- He is Welsh by nationality and represented Wales at every youth and senior level.
What is Craig Bellamy’s place of birth?
- Born in Cardiff, the capital of Wales (BBC Sport).
- He later played for his hometown club Cardiff City at the end of his playing career (Wikipedia).
Bellamy’s Cardiff roots run deeper than birthplace — returning to play for Cardiff City in 2012 and later basing his Wales coaching operation in Newport shows a man who never fully left home.
This hometown connection underpins his entire professional identity.
How tall is Craig Bellamy?
Listed at 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in), Bellamy was not the tallest forward in the Premier League, but his explosive acceleration and low centre of gravity made him a nightmare for defenders.
What is Craig Bellamy’s height in feet and inches?
- 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) — as recorded by Wikipedia and official squad lists.
- His weight during his playing days was approximately 72 kg.
How does Craig Bellamy’s height compare to other footballers?
- Similar height to Lionel Messi (1.70 m) and Jamie Vardy (1.79 m) — both forwards who relied on pace over physical dominance.
- Shorter than the average Premier League striker, which made his ability to win aerial duels despite his frame a talking point.
The pattern: Bellamy turned a perceived physical disadvantage into a tactical weapon — his low centre of gravity made him harder to knock off the ball and allowed rapid direction changes.
Which football clubs did Craig Bellamy play for?
Over 18 senior years, Bellamy represented ten clubs across England, Scotland, and a brief stint at Kettering Town. He made over 500 senior appearances and scored more than 150 goals, according to LFChistory.net.
Did Craig Bellamy play for Liverpool?
- Yes — Bellamy played for Liverpool in two spells: 2006–2007 and 2011–2012.
- He won the League Cup with Liverpool in 2012 (LFChistory.net).
Did Craig Bellamy play for Manchester City?
- Yes — he joined Manchester City in 2009 and played one season, scoring 4 Premier League goals (Wikipedia).
Did Craig Bellamy play for West Ham?
- Yes — Bellamy signed for West Ham United in 2007 and spent two seasons at Upton Park, scoring 7 goals in 24 league appearances (Wikipedia).
Did Craig Bellamy play for Newcastle United?
- Yes — he played for Newcastle United from 2001 to 2004, scoring 28 goals in 83 appearances (LFChistory.net).
- His time at Newcastle was marked by both goals and off-field controversies.
What other clubs has Craig Bellamy played for?
- Norwich City (1996–2000): Professional debut and 32 goals in 84 appearances.
- Coventry City (2000–2001): Moved for a club-record £6.5 million deal (LFChistory.net).
- Celtic (2004–2005, loan): Scored 9 goals in 12 Scottish Premier League matches.
- Blackburn Rovers (2005–2006): 13 goals in 27 league games.
- Cardiff City (2010–2011 loan, 2012–2014 permanent): Ended his playing career at his hometown club.
- Kettering Town (2014, brief non-league stint).
Bellamy’s club-hopping — 10 teams in 18 years — reveals a player who was never fully settled. His talent was undeniable, but his temper and outspoken nature made him a rental, not a long-term asset for any single club.
That restlessness later carried into his coaching career.
What is Craig Bellamy’s international career with Wales?
Bellamy made his Wales debut on 25 March 1998 and went on to earn 78 caps and score 19 goals between 1998 and 2014, as recorded by Transfermarkt. He also captained the side during parts of his tenure.
How many caps does Craig Bellamy have for Wales?
- 78 caps — seventh-highest in Welsh history (Transfermarkt).
How many goals did Craig Bellamy score for Wales?
- 19 goals, making him Wales’ fourth-highest all-time scorer at the time of retirement.
Did Craig Bellamy play in any major tournaments with Wales?
- Bellamy retired from international football in 2014 — before Wales qualified for Euro 2016, their first major tournament in 58 years (Wikipedia).
- His generation of Welsh talent fell just short of tournament qualification.
When did Craig Bellamy retire from international football?
- He retired from international duty in October 2014 (Wikipedia).
- His final match was a Euro 2016 qualifier against Cyprus.
What this means: Bellamy never played in a major tournament as a player — a gap he now has the chance to fill as a manager, guiding Wales toward Euro 2028.
What is Craig Bellamy’s coaching career?
Bellamy transitioned into coaching in 2019 as an assistant at Anderlecht, working alongside Vincent Kompany. He later followed Kompany to Burnley before taking the top job with Wales.
When did Craig Bellamy become a coach?
- His first coaching role was as assistant coach at RSC Anderlecht in 2019 (Wikipedia).
- He worked under Vincent Kompany, learning the tactical side of the game.
What was Craig Bellamy’s role at Anderlecht?
- Assistant coach focusing on attacking play and player development (Wikipedia).
- He stayed from 2019 to 2022, gaining valuable experience in Belgian football.
Why did Craig Bellamy leave Burnley?
- Bellamy served as assistant coach at Burnley from 2022 to 2024 under Vincent Kompany.
- After Kompany left for Bayern Munich, Bellamy was briefly acting head coach on 30 May 2024 (Wikipedia).
- In June 2025, a proposed move to become Burnley’s permanent head coach collapsed, with BBC Sport reporting “burnt bridges” and strained relationships with club bosses.
What is Craig Bellamy’s record as Wales manager?
- Appointed head coach of Wales on 9 July 2024 on a four-year deal until the end of Euro 2028 (BBC Sport).
- He was unbeaten in his opening nine matches as head coach (BBC Sport).
- Bellamy led Wales to promotion to the Nations League’s top tier early in his tenure (BBC Sport).
- He announced his coaching staff on 23 August 2024, including Andrew Crofts, James Rowberry, and Piet Cremers as assistant coaches (Football Association of Wales).
- Bellamy accepted a pay cut to take the Wales job after working as an assistant at Burnley (BBC Sport).
Bellamy’s coaching style — described as attacking and statistically progressive by BBC Sport — represents a major philosophical shift for Welsh football. But the Burnley collapse raises questions about whether his combustible personality will follow him into the dugout.
The Wales job marks the first time Bellamy has been the top decision-maker, and early results suggest he can channel his intensity productively.
Timeline: Craig Bellamy’s career
- 13 July 1979 — Born in Cardiff, Wales
- 1996–2000 — Senior career debut at Norwich City
- 2000–2001 — Transferred to Coventry City for £6.5 million
- 2001–2004 — Played for Newcastle United
- 2004–2005 — Loan to Celtic; permanent move to Blackburn Rovers
- 2006–2007 — Signed with Liverpool
- 2007–2009 — Played for West Ham United
- 2009–2010 — Joined Manchester City
- 2010–2011 — Loan to Cardiff City
- 2011–2012 — Returned to Liverpool; won League Cup
- 2012–2014 — Played for Cardiff City; retired
- 1998–2014 — International career: 78 caps, 19 goals
- 2019–2022 — Assistant coach at RSC Anderlecht
- 2022–2024 — Assistant coach at Burnley
- 9 July 2024 — Appointed Wales head coach
- June 2025 — Burnley head-coach move collapses
This timeline shows a career marked by frequent moves but a clear upward trajectory into management.
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Personal details: full name Craig Douglas Bellamy, born 13 July 1979 in Cardiff, height 1.78 m (BBC Sport, Wikipedia)
- Playing career: clubs and years, international caps (78) and goals (19) (LFChistory.net, Transfermarkt)
- Coaching roles: assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley, Wales head coach since 2024 (Wikipedia, BBC Sport)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth — no authoritative source
- Details of any new wife — no recent reliable source on remarriage
- Specific reasons for Burnley move collapse — reported as “burnt bridges” by BBC Sport
- Future coaching trajectory beyond Euro 2028
“Wales head coach Craig Bellamy faces tensions in his relationships with bosses, players and fans after a move to Burnley collapsed.”
— Neil Roberts, BBC Sport
The BBC quote underscores the central tension in Bellamy’s current chapter: early managerial success shadowed by renewed doubts about his temperament.
Related reading: **Robin van Persie: Biography, Career, and Manager Role** · **Graeme Souness: Biography, Liverpool Career, Net Worth**
fbref.com, youtube.com, en.wikipedia.org, kids.kiddle.co, rugbyleagueproject.org, youtube.com, kiwireport.nz
For a more detailed look at his playing days and early coaching moves, Craig Bellamys biography and career offers additional context.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Craig Bellamy?
Craig Bellamy was born on 13 July 1979, making him 45 years old as of 2025 (Wikipedia).
What position did Craig Bellamy play?
He played as a forward and winger, known for his pace, direct running, and finishing ability (Wikipedia).
How many goals did Craig Bellamy score in the Premier League?
Bellamy scored 74 Premier League goals across spells with Norwich City, Coventry City, Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool, West Ham United, Manchester City, and Cardiff City (Wikipedia).
Did Craig Bellamy ever play in the World Cup?
No — Bellamy retired from international football in 2014, two years before Wales qualified for Euro 2016, their first major tournament since 1958 (Wikipedia).
What is Craig Bellamy’s salary as Wales manager?
Exact figures are not publicly disclosed, but Bellamy reportedly accepted a pay cut from his assistant-coach salary at Burnley to take the Wales job (BBC Sport).
Is Craig Bellamy married?
He married Sandra Bellamy in 2003, and the couple have three children together. No recent reliable source confirms a remarriage (Wikipedia).
Does Craig Bellamy have children?
Yes — he has three children with his wife Sandra (Wikipedia).
What is Craig Bellamy’s connection to rugby?
A different Craig Bellamy is a rugby league coach who has managed the Melbourne Storm in Australia’s NRL since 2003. The two are entirely different individuals (Wikipedia).
Bellamy’s story isn’t finished. He has built an impressive start as Wales boss — promotion, an unbeaten run, a committed coaching staff — but the Burnley collapse shows the old fire still smoulders. For Welsh football, the choice is clear: embrace the intensity that made him a Premier League name, or risk watching it consume the second act of his career.
George Thompson is Senior Reporter at UrbanMixr.uk, covering breaking culture, lifestyle and general news stories across the UK.