Craig Bellamy has been appointed as the new head coach of the Wales national football team on a contract until 2028, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) announced Tuesday.
Bellamy has replaced Rob Page, who was sacked following Walesโ failure to qualify for Euro 2024.
The 44-year-old former Liverpool, Newcastle and Wales striker leaves Burnley, where he was assistant to former manager Vincent Kompany last season as they were relegated from the Premier League.
โI will give my full commitment to develop this team and I am passionate to bring continued success into Welsh football,โ Bellamy told the FAW website.
โI canโt wait to get started with our Nations League games in September.โ
The FAWโs chief football officer, Dr David Adams, said: โI am absolutely delighted to announce Craig as our new head coach.
โWe undertook a thorough recruitment process for the new menโs national team head coach and Craig was identified as the standout candidate.
โWe are all looking forward to the Nations League games and working with Craig to deliver success for Welsh Football.โ
Burnley chairman Alan Pace added: โI want to thank Craig for all his hard work during his time at Burnley and wish him the best for his new position as Wales manager.
โCraig has been a very important part of our wonderful journey the last two years. Iโve admired his leadership, knowledge and passion.โ
Page guided Wales to their first World Cup in 64 years in 2022 and to the second round of Euro 2020 but failed to reach this yearโs Euros, losing in a penalty shoot-out to Poland in a play-off.
But he subsequently oversaw one of the most embarrassing results in Walesโ history, a 0-0 draw with Gibraltar in a friendly and then suffered a 4-0 hammering at the hands of Slovakia.
Walesโ next game is the opening match of their Nations League campaign against Turkey on September 6, with a trip to Montenegro three days later.