Craig Bellamy’s credentials as a Celtic manager go beyond just his playing connections.
Bellamy joined Celtic for the second half of the 2004-05 season, ironically under current interim boss Martin O’Neill.
There was much clamour for him to remain in Glasgow permanently, but he instead moved to Blackburn, where he recorded his best-ever Premier League goal tally the very next season.
Bellamy moved to Anderlecht to work as a coach with Vincent Kompany in 2019, following him to Burnley. He was given his first ever full-time manager role by the Welsh national team in 2024.
Bellamy has earned rave reviews at Wales, where he went unbeaten in his first nine matches. He has been touted for the Celtic job since the departure of Brendan Rodgers.
Craig Bellamy tipped for the Celtic job by Joe Ledley
67 Hail Hail has reported that Bellamy is admired by Celtic, but his situation at Wales complicates things.
With their World Cup qualification campaign still ongoing, he has been clear that this remains his full focus.
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Joe Ledley is familiar with Celtic, and familiar with Bellamy. He has given the 46-year-old a ringing endorsement for the vacant role, as the Hoops’ search goes on.
He told BBC Sport: “He’s very attack-minded, very aggressive, very on the front foot, presses very high – I just think the style of play he has with Wales would definitely suit Celtic.
“He’s very passionate about the club as well. He knows a lot about it so for me he’d be perfect.
“But whether it’s a little bit too soon, I think he’s come out and already said he’s got unfinished business here with the national team, with Wales being guaranteed a play-off for the World Cup in March.
“So, you know, whether it’s one of those where the club will agree to wait and see what Craig does or they might have to move on.
“Kieran McKenna as well at Ipswich has been linked, who’s done very well there and was linked a few years back with Chelsea. It all depends what the board really want to do.
“Craig’s young and you can see he’s a very, very intelligent manager who loves football, breathes football and he’s got a good team around him as well.”
Latest updates on Celtic’s manager search
Bellamy’s situation prevents him from joining anytime soon, or if Wales qualify for next summer’s tournament, at any point this season.
It looks like the Hoops are going to opt for a more immediate option, perhaps in the form of Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy.
Nancy is reportedly the front-runner for the role, thanks in part to his pre-existing relationship with Hoops head of football operations Paul Tisdale.
Kjetil Knutsen appears to be his closest competitor, but he too has priorities which could delay his availability by several months,
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