An integral part of Bellamy’s coaching background has been helping to hone talented youngsters.
He had Rubin Colwill under his charge when he was part of the Cardiff City academy. At Anderlecht he coached a 16-year-old, who has since starred for Manchester City and Belgium, in Jeremy Doku.
As a Wales captain, Bellamy was a champion for youngsters coming through the ranks. It wasn’t for the want of his trying, but Bellamy was among those famed Wales internationals – Ryan Giggs, Ian Rush, Neville Southall, Kevin Ratcliffe and John Hartson to name a few – who did not qualify for a major tournament finals with their country.
Yet when he played, he saw Bale, Ramsey, Ashley Williams, Chris Gunter and James Collins coming through.
Bellamy always counselled, that given time, these talents would help Wales qualify for a major tournament. They duly obliged in 2016 – a little less than three years after he had retired. His judgement, though, had proved correct.
He will be excited at the prospect of helping develop Wales hopefuls such as Liverpool’s Lewis Koumas and enhancing the international career of Birmingham City midfielder Jordan James, already a regular in the national team.
Bellamy has also already shown an interest in the younger age-group Wales squads and referenced the under-17s in his media interviews.
“If they are good enough they will be involved,” he said.