Craig Bellamy says the Burnley approach was flattering, but he made the decision to stay with Wales. He was 47 and two years into a four-year deal when Burnley triggered a compensation clause to speak to him in June, and he has now tried to put the summer noise in plain terms.

Bellamy's choice and the Burnley approach

"I had a decision to make and I made it," Bellamy said, speaking to BBC Sport. He added: "It didn't break down. I said no, it's not for me. That was it. There was no walk away from discussions. It wasn't for me."

That line matters because Burnley were coming off a 4W-10D-24L season and finished 19th with 22 points from 38 games. A club in that position will always be looking for a reset, and Bellamy understood why the call came.

He was clear that the interest was welcome. "It was flattering – we all like our ego being exercised and being wanted – but for me, my partner, my kids, this is the place and we didn't see anything else being able to move that," he said.

Wales and the pressure on Bellamy

Bellamy also knows the public reaction is not all positive. "I know how it could be seen, but I've only one person I have anything to prove to, and that's me," he said, before adding: "I'm comfortable with the decision I've made. I've always been committed in everything I do and that hasn't changed."

The wider context is not ideal. Wales missed out on the 2026 World Cup after a penalty shoot-out defeat by Bosnia-Herzegovina in March's play-offs, and Bellamy has overseen an unbeaten promotion to the top flight of the Nations League since replacing Rob Page in 2024.

Those two things sit side by side in the argument around him. Wales' latest three listed matches are a draw with USA, then two defeats, and they scored just once across those games. Bellamy's reply is that the job still feels right, even if he accepts he may not have won everyone over yet.

He has already named a 28-man squad for Nations League A games against Portugal, Denmark and Norway. He also said he would love to be in charge at Euro 2028, but added that nothing is guaranteed.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →