Bellamy had a well-deserved reputation as a troublemaker during a colorful playing career that featured almost as many controversial moments as goals for the striker.
The infamous villain was alleged by then Liverpool team-mate John Arne Riise to have attacked him with a golf club in his hotel room in 2007 during a drunken brawl at a training camp in Portugal.
Bellamy celebrated a goal against Barcelona at Camp Nou a few days later by waving an imaginary golf club.
He has also struggled with depression and admitted to a drinking problem that started when he was just 12.
Bellamy was banned from driving for 18 months in 2019 for being over the legal alcohol limit and was forced to apologize for any offense caused during his time as Cardiff academy coach. Bellamy didn’t seem to have calmed down after hanging up his boots.
An internal investigation into bullying claims raised “a number of significant concerns” about Bellamy’s actions, forcing him to admit he needed to improve his coaching methods, although he was not subject to disciplinary procedures.
Against this combustible backdrop, it was a big gamble when the Welsh Football Association hired Bellamy in July to replace the sacked Robert Page.
The 45-year-old had worked as Vincent Kompany’s assistant coach at Anderlecht and Burnley after retiring in 2014, but the Wales job was his first taste of bossing.
A fiercely patriotic Welshman who won 78 caps and captained the national team for three years. Some feared that Bellamy’s passion for his country could be a trigger for the more untamed side of his personality.
But Bellamy has made an impressively smooth transition to senior management.
‘I’m not a fool’
Wales were at a low point when Bellamy took over after dismal friendly results against Gibraltar, and Slovakia led to Page’s dismissal.
Bellamy claimed the job was his “ultimate dream” and quickly proved he could handle the pressure of restoring Welsh pride.
Calm and tactically astute in team meetings, Bellamy has encouraged a more progressive style of play that has allowed Wales to flourish.
He has become equally confident in front of the media and has adopted a positive attitude that is very much in keeping with his combative playing persona.
Most importantly, Bellamy has delivered, with a six-match unbeaten run, with three wins and three draws, which ranks as the best start by a Welsh manager.
Bellamy’s dream start reached a high point on Tuesday as Wales recovered from an early goal to beat Iceland 4-1 in Cardiff.
Turkey’s defeat in Montenegro saw Wales leapfrog them to finish top of Nations League Group B4.
Promotion to League A is a boost to Wales’ hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup as it should at least earn them a place in the play-offs for that tournament.
Bellamy was well aware of the skeptical public view of his character and admitted that it was nice to change the perception.
“I probably think it was important to show people that I’m not a crazy person. I’m quite sane,” he said.
“People thought I was going to run onto the pitch and push the referee and stuff and I’d be sent off.
“I probably felt pushed more into management to show that I’m not like that. People used to bring up temperament. ‘Oh yeah, but his temperament.’ I thought, ‘Really?’ Now you can see this side of me.”
Bellamy expects his temperament to be tested even further when Wales begin their World Cup qualifying campaign in March.
But the boss is confident his new-found maturity will help navigate flashpoints that may have been destructive in the past.
“You won’t get anywhere like this. You will see me even calmer and friendlier when things go wrong,” he said.
“I’m not naive enough to know that those moments won’t come. I know that and I have to remain calm about that.”
© 2024 AFP