The next permanent Celtic manager hunt continues despite Martin O’Neill showing a steady hand whilst in temporary charge of the club.
Celtic suffered a Europa League setback in Denmark as O’Neill tasted his first defeat since his return to the club.
One name who has been tipped to become the next permanent Celtic manager is Wales’ national boss Craig Bellamy.
Bellamy played for the club temporarily on loan back in 2005 and was a favourite amongst many of the Celtic support.
Now linked to the Celtic job, Welsh FA CEO Noel Mooney has sent the Parkhead club a message about trying to poach their popular manager.
Welsh FA CEO sends Celtic a message about Craig Bellamy links
Wales are on the brink of qualifying for next summer’s 2026 World Cup with Bellamy at the helm and the FA appear to be in no mood to entertain anyone, including Celtic, casting admiring glances at their top man.
When asked about Bellamy’s link to the Celtic job, Mooney told Sgorio, “Yeah, look, Craig has done a terrific job with Cymru. He’s built an identity with us. And a style of play that has really got you all excited. He’s a year and a bit into a job of a four year contract.
“We’re completely focused on going to the World Cup in America, Canada, Mexico next year, two massive matches in November that he’s absolutely focused on. When you do well in any job you’ll get linked to other jobs, Celtic is a massive football club.
“Look, he’s going to be linked with roles, he’s an exciting coach, who has really captured the imagination of a lot of people.
“After us I’m sure he will go on to manage the best teams in the world, there’s no doubt about it, but at the moment we’re focused on getting to the World Cup, all of us, we say ‘together stronger’ at the FAW, and Craig is at the heart of that.”
Craig Bellamy’s managerial record as Celtic rumours continue
Bellamy has only ever been a standalone manager in his own right and that is, of course, with Wales.
So how does his record with the Welsh national side look? 67 Hail Hail decided to do a bit of digging:
- Played: 14
- Won: 5
- Drawn: 4
- Lost: 4
- Goals For/Against: 22/18
- Biggest win: 4-1 vs Iceland
- Biggest defeat: 2-4 vs Belgium
Bellamy is undefeated in his last nine games as the Wales manager and that includes an impressive 2-1 away win at Montenegro and a very respectable 0-0 home draw with Turkey.
Is Bellamy the right man for Celtic? With his inexperience at managerial level so limited, we would have to say that the job has come around too early at this particular time for the Welshman.
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