Wales head coach Craig Bellamy has spoken candidly about the personal toll of criticism during the team’s winless run, revealing that the abuse he faced was “really difficult” to endure. The emotional confession came in the aftermath of Wales’ 2-1 victory over Norway at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday, which marked the first win under his tenure in the Nations League A competition.
The triumph ended a six-game winless streak that began with a defeat to Bosnia-Herzegovina in the World Cup play-off semi-final back in March. For Bellamy, the result provided a sense of relief after a challenging period. When asked if the success had lifted a burden, the manager admitted he had “felt the stick” since the loss to Bosnia.
“The summer wasn’t easy, then these games weren’t easy,” Bellamy said. “But I’ve seen it; I’ve drawn on experience because I’ve seen managers before me get it. I’ve been part of that, and I’ve seen the abuse. I’ve seen the abuse the previous manager got just before me, and I have to be honest, it’s been a really difficult couple of months.”
Bellamy, who took charge in July 2024, faced scrutiny from some supporters following talks about a potential move to Burnley in June. He stressed that the negativity extended beyond himself and impacted his family. “It’s not me but I have kids and a wife; it’s for them – they see it,” he explained.
Reflecting on his own playing days, the former striker called for greater kindness and accountability among fans. “I’ve lived in this environment and I had it as a player, but I think there are ways we can speak to people, and just because it’s the game we love, it doesn’t give us the right to think we can say whatever we want to,” he said. “We’re such a small country… why can’t we have each other’s backs? Why don’t we look after each other more?”
While acknowledging that criticism is part of the job, Bellamy urged the public to be less quick to judge. He added that he did not wish to detract from the positive atmosphere surrounding the historic win, noting it was Wales’ first victory against a higher-ranked nation since his appointment.
“I’m really happy with it, but I’m happy for the country, you understand? It’s like, I give everything for my country. Everything. I turned down big money to keep doing this. I love doing this,” Bellamy concluded.
It’s brave of Bellamy to speak out about the abuse. Fans need to remember these are real people with families, not just employees.
Relief is well-earned. That win against Norway was exactly the boost Wales needed after such a tough few months.