Craig Bellamy has admitted the pain of missing out on a World Cup and the resulting personal abuse aimed his way has made his job as Wales boss more difficult over the last few months.
Wales ended a winless run of six games in 2026 by defeating Norway at Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday night, with Daniel James and Neco Williams both on target. It was a win that got Wales off the mark in League A of the UEFA Nations League, and was their first over a higher-ranked side since Bellamy took over in 2024.
Abuse since Bosnia
Crucially, it also went some way to easing any pressure on the current boss, who says he endured abuse for much of the summer from a section of supporters on the back of his side's previous shortcomings. As well as the failure to reach the World Cup, he also came close to joining former side Burnley, a development that arguably frayed relations with sections of fans even further.
"I've felt it since Bosnia, my own disappointment," he said. "I've felt the stick as well, and the summer wasn't easy. Then these games weren't easy. I can draw on experience because I've seen managers before me get it. I've been part of, 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. But it's 'welcome to this'. If you wanna step into this, this is it."
Appeal for kindness
Bellamy also appealed for greater kindness, saying his family has been affected. "I do think we could be kinder to each other. It's not me, but I have kids and a wife. It's for them. They see it. I think that's where we are. I've lived in this environment, and I had it as a player."
"But I think there's a way 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."
"I don't wanna spoil it because I'm really happy with it [the win]. I'm happy for the country, you understand? I'd give everything for my country. Everything."
Family targeted online
He also suggested even some of his family members had been targeted for abuse online. "I turned down big money to keep doing this," he said in an apparent reference to the Burnley job he came close to getting in the summer.
"I love doing this. I sat quiet as well. I didn't wanna get involved, you know? Because I don't do it that way. If someone says something to my daughter on social media, she's the most beautiful girl in the world. There's no one better than me who knows. So if I tell you you are, you are, because I know you inside and out."
"So to me, I have to lead by example. Don't respond. Don't react. I'm a human being as well. I'm a human being and like I said, I think sometimes we've all gotta take account of what we're saying as well, and responsibilities."
Bellamy also referenced his decision to live in Wales. "I chose to live back down here as well, 'cause I wanted to be on the ground, you know? I wanted to be called a ****** to my face, which seemed to be quite a lot. That moment, I just felt the shift."
"I am a strong person. I think we all are, you know? But it's the people around you that you're always conscious of as well. I feel it's just society, you know? It's, you know, what are we, eight prime ministers in the space of 11 years? Before that there's been one prime minister for like 15 odd years. But I think that's just how we move now."
