By Gareth James
Craig Bellamy has named Aaron Ramsey as captain of his first Wales squad but he doesn’t see it as any big deal.
The former Arsenal, Rangers, Juventus and Nice star, now plying his trade at his home town team Cardiff City, won the last of his 84 caps in a friendly against South Korea on 7 September 2023, missing the end of the unsuccessful play-off campaign for the Euros this summer.
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Now fully fit, and playing regularly in the Championship for Cardiff, the 33-year-old was the obvious choice to make captain when Bellamy, who lined-up alongside him on his international debut against Denmark back in November 2008, announced his squad for the Nations League games against Turkey and Montenegro.
“I didn’t realise it would be this big, the captaincy issue with Aaron. Maybe you guys hold onto the captaincy issue more than I do because of the rugby background here,” said Bellamy.
“I gave the captaincy away. I was grateful being made captain, but playing for my country was enough for me. That’s how I felt and thought I led in other ways.
“I like having a leadership group and I like having opinions. I’m not a dictator, although I have certain beliefs about what I like.
“The leadership group allows me to get my messages across and is very important. There is no doubting Aaron’s ability and just having him there on the pitch makes him a positive influence.
“He really has been one of Wales’ greatest players. We’re talking about someone who has won cups with Arsenal, played at Juventus and Nice.
“He still has a lot to offer and I still see a very good footballer. The way we will be looking to play will help him a lot and be perfect for him.”
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Still only 18, Lewis Koumas is currently on loan from parent club Liverpool at Stoke City and is already making waves in the Championship.
He scored on his last two outings and is hoping to add to the two senior caps he won in the summer friendlies against Gibraltar and Slovenia.
His fellow Liverpool academy player, Owen Beck, is yet to win his first cap, but is another youngster highly rated by Bellamy. The new Wales boss has also been able to convince Leeds United goalkeeper Karl Darlow to join him after previously turning down an offer to play for Wales.
Darlow’s grandfather, Ken Leek, was in the first Wales squad to reach the finals of a major championship at the World Cup in Sweden in 1958.
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But it is Koumas who most excites Bellamy as they both start out on the next phases of their career, one fighting for an international career, the other hoping to steer his country into the World Cup in the USA 2027.
“I’ve got a young Lewis Koumas who wants to become a top player. His father Jason was incredible, although I hope his attitude is better than his father’s and he takes himself a lot more seriously than him,” said Bellamy.
“I’ve just loved every bit I’ve seen of Lewis. He’s fearless and he’s one of those players who every time he has the ball you feel like something positive is going to happen.
“I’m sure he would have looked at Aaron for a number of years and now he gets to see what an elite footballer really looks like in a character like Aaron. I’d like to believe that’s going to develop a player like Lewis quicker.
“He’ll get to see him, see his actions, and hear him talk. He’ll also get to hear certain information as well.”
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Bellamy still recalls the boost to his fledgling career when he was given the chance to mix with the top Welsh professionals when he first got into the national squad.
“I remember how lucky I was to have senior players like Mark Hughes and Gary Speed in the Welsh squad when I broke in. They were players I really admired from being a fan,” added Bellamy.
“I just caught the end of Ian Rush, and he was my hero. I was able to pick up little bits from him and I got to see what a serious player he was, which benefited me.
“I hope that can happen for Lewis. I’ve seen so many players with ability but it is your attitude that determines how good you’re going to be.
“How you conduct yourself, how disciplined you are, that’s what determines who becomes a real top player. There are no shortcuts because the quality is too high.
“Lewis has the ability to get to that level. It will be his attitude, how he conducts and disciplines himself that will determine where he ends up in his career.”
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