Craig Bellamy would jump at the chance of taking over as Wales manager – even though he has admitted he is not ready for a Premier League job.
As Chris Coleman prepares for his first match as Sunderland boss following his decision to leave the Wales job, Bellamy has put his name forward as a possible successor.
The 38-year-old former striker – currently coaching in the academy at Cardiff City – is already third favourite for the Wales role behind Tony Pulis and Ryan Giggs.
Bellamy told Sky Sports on Monday night, “”I’d always be interested in it, even now at this moment, of course I am.
“And looking further ahead I think I’d be interested in for the rest of my life. I’m passionately Welsh, it’s the pinnacle for me, and I’d definitely be interested in that job.
“You’re working with a group of players who are the most successful Welsh players in the history of Welsh football, getting to the semi-finals of a major competition.
“The group of players are there, the balance of the team, young players coming through, you need someone who has been involved in the set up for a number of years so you know who is coming through,” before smiling and saying: “Which I do!”
He added: “It’s a good position. I’m sure there will be plenty of people interested in it, and rightly so, due to what the Welsh FA have in place at this moment and the group of players you have to work with.”
Former Newcastle, Man City and Liverpool striker Bellamy retired from international duty in 2013 after picking up 78 caps for Wales, and played with many of the current members of the squad.
He added that a move to a Premier League team would be unrealistic at this stage, and said he has a lot of respect for the current crop, who missed out on qualification to the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
“Would it be realistic for me to go into a Premier League team? Of course it wouldn’t be there, due to where the Premier league has gone to at this present moment.
“You look at the Championship: yeah, there are a number of clubs where I’d take a gamble, but then there is working through the youth systems, learning your trade that way. I’ve done that, and I’m still doing that, which I really enjoy.
“I’ve worked with Wales’ younger age groups, so I’ve got a good idea of the system in place for producing young players in Wales. I’ve been heavily involved and enjoyed that too.
“I’ve played with this group of players, and I’ve also been through the hardest of times with these players too, so we know each other well. I respect a lot of them, and also I just feel it’s in a healthy position at the moment.
“From the outside looking in, a good group of players who I see qualifying for the next tournament and the next one.”
