Bellamy Ends Wales Days

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Craig Bellamy has confirmed he is to retire from international football.

The Cardiff City player will bow out after the upcoming Wales World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Belgium.

Bellamy, 34, has won 76 caps for Wales and scored 19 goals during a 15-year international career.

"Players come and go and my career has definitely come and gone," the former Coventry, Newcastle and Liverpool striker said.

"I have to do what's best for the national team and this group of players are the future. The next qualifiers, two-odd years, I'm not going to see it."

He said the current set of talented younger players gave Wales a better chance of qualification for Euro 2016.

"They have to have a better opportunity of qualifying. I have to cut myself short," he said.

Friday's penultimate World Cup qualifier against Macedonia at Cardiff City Stadium is set to be Bellamy's final Wales appearance on home soil.

And it could be his final cap if he picks up a second yellow card which would see him miss Tuesday's qualifier against Belgium in Brussels through suspension.

He was penalised the first time in Wales' 3-0 defeat by Serbia on 10 September.

Bellamy says he will not play in the friendly against Finland at Cardiff City Stadium on 16 November.

Former Wales captain Bellamy will go down as one of his country's greats. He is the third most-capped Welsh player of all time and is fifth on the all-time scorers' chart with 19 goals.

"I'm just grateful for every game I've been lucky enough to play for my country, and I really mean that," Bellamy added.

"It's an honour to play for your country at any level at any sport.

"[Playing] 70-odd times, it's been the best. Even the disappointments, even the lows, even the times I didn't want to play again because sometimes defeats can do that to you.

"Seventy-odd times having that honour like singing the anthem… it's still the best and Friday will be the best and hopefully I will get the chance to do it again on Tuesday. [It] will be hard to let go.

"My daughter will probably come out with me [before the Macedonia game] but it will probably hit me more after it... when you're watching the team."

Bellamy made his debut as an 18-year-old in a friendly against Jamaica in March 1998, replacing Gareth Taylor during the second half of a goalless draw at Ninian Park.

He scored his first international goal against Malta two months later and scored the winner in a Euro 2000 qualifier against Denmark in October 1998.

His most famous goal for Wales was the winner in the famous 2-1 victory over Italy in a Euro 2004 qualifier at the Millennium Stadium in October 2003, a game Bellamy considers his best moment in a Wales shirt.

One of his most memorable games for Wales came when he scored twice in a 5-2 win in Slovakia in September 2007, a display which then manager John Toshack as a "scintillating performance".

Bellamy, whose spell as captain of the national team was during Toshack's reign in 2007 to 2011, also represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games.

He came close to retiring from international football following the death of Wales manager and close friend Gary Speed in November 2012.

But the Cardiff-born forward, who played in Speed's memorial match against Costa Rica in February 2012, decided to prolong his international career under new manager Chris Coleman.

However the former Manchester City frontman hinted the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign would be his international swansong.

He has even suggested he could retire from football altogether at the end of the season, when his current deal with Cardiff City expires.

Bellamy revealed in June his ambition to manage Wales and Cardiff City in the future but added he had a long way to go before stepping into management.

Factfile

Born: 13 July 1979, Cardiff

Clubs: Norwich City, Coventry City , Newcastle United, Celtic (loan), Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool (two spells), West Ham United, Manchester City, Cardiff City (two spells)

Wales debut: v Jamaica in 1998

Wales caps: 76

Wales goals : 19

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Ramsey Wants Wales Bellamy

Captain Aaron Ramsey has urged Craig Bellamy to continue his Wales career as Wednesday's Gary Speed Memorial Match could be his final international.

Liverpool striker Bellamy is the stand-in Welsh skipper for the friendly with Costa Rica in Cardiff as the Arsenal midfielder is out with ankle trouble.

Bellamy is considering his Wales future but they hope he stays until the end of the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

"Craig has been a massive part of our success," said Ramsey

"He has proven he still has the ability to cause a threat and and he has huge experience.

"We hope he stays because he still has a lot to offer and he could be a major part in the future success of Wales."

Bellamy last skippered Wales in their Euro 2012 opening qualifying defeat in Montenegro in September 2010 before resigning from the Wales captaincy in December 2010.

The 32-year-old is fifth in Wales' all-time top goal-scorer list with 19 goals and leads Wales in what could be the Cardiff-born player's 68th and final international in his home town.

Chris Coleman has talked to Bellamy about extending his international career but the Wales manager is still unsure whether he will continue although Coleman is "positive."

Bellamy was particularly close to late manager Speed, his former Wales and Newcastle team-mate, and was deeply affected by his death in November 2011 so has not committed himself beyond this fixture.

"When he's ready, he'll come out and say what he wants to do," said Coleman.

"I have to try and put myself in Craig's shoes. He has known Gary a long time and was very close to him and his family.

"He came out of retirement for Gary. And Gary is not here now. It's not an easy one for him.

"I won't take it to heart if he comes out and says that he won't do it. I will understand. I hope that's not the situation.

"I've known Bellers a long time. I'm not saying our relationship is the same as it was with Gary's. But he knows me and the way I work.

"It doesn't have to be a love affair to work. Not that I dislike Craig because I like him. I have a lot of respect for him.

"I hope he stays with us because we need a Craig Bellamy, like most teams do on and off the park.

"You know what his mentality is like, he's a winner, he wants things done right.

"Personally I want Craig to stay and I hope he does. I will do my best to keep him because we're a better team and a better squad with him about.

"I think the talks have been positive but it is not for me to say, it is up to Craig when he says yes or no.

"But Craig knows how important he is to the group. I won't push him but I imagine his mind is already made up and when he is ready he'll come out and say it."

Bellamy has missed internationals since his Wales debut against Jamaica in 1998 due to his long-standing knee problems and Coleman insists: "I can't say just turn up for friendlies.

"I agree international football should retire you and I think you have to turn up to every game unless you are injured.

"Craig has played a lot of football and has had knee problems so that needs to be looked at. But he has won a lot of caps and has paid his dues."

Bellamy Leads Wales in Speed Memorial

Craig Bellamy is to regain the Welsh captaincy and lead the national team in the memorial game for his friend Gary Speed against Costa Rica on Wednesday.

The Liverpool striker takes the armband from Aaron Ramsey for the Cardiff City Stadium match as the Arsenal midfielder is injured an ankle problem.

The 21-year-old went off in Arsenal's FA Cup defeat at Sunderland and missed their 5-2 win over Tottenham on Sunday.

"For obvious reasons Craig will lead the side," said coach Osian Roberts.

"He knew Gary better than anybody, he is a close friend of the Speed family and it seems only right that he should lead Wales on the night."

Wales will be without Wolverhampton Wanderers goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey (ankle) with either Lewis Price or Jason Brown likely to deputise as Birmingham's Boaz Myhill struggles with an Achilles problem.

Wolves midfielder David Edwards is also a doubt because of a knee injury.

Bellamy was a long-time team-mate of Speed with both Wales and Newcastle United so the friendly will be an emotional fixture for the 32-year-old.

He last skippered Wales in their Euro 2012 opening qualifying defeat in Montenegro in September 2010 before resigning from the Wales captaincy in December 2010

Bellamy, fifth in Wales' all-time top goal-scorer list with 19 goals, leads Wales in what could be the Cardiff-born player's 68th and final international in his home town.

He has said he is considering international retirement after Wednesday's friendly but new Wales manager Chris Coleman has talked to Bellamy about extending his international career to the end of the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Ramsey was appointed Wales captain by Speed in March 2011 and the Arsenal playmaker helped guide Wales from 113th in the world and into the top 50 as Speed's side won four of their last five games before the former Wales manager's death in November 2011.

Coleman was confirmed as successor to old friend Speed in January and he admits he "doesn't want to change too much" so has continued with young Ramsey as Wales skipper.

But Ramsey will miss Coleman's first game because of a "small ankle injury" that forced him off in the 53rd minute of Arsenal's 2-0 defeat at The Stadium of Light on 18 February.

Coleman praised vice captain Ashley Williams, after the Swansea defender allowed Bellamy to take the armband.

"It is a real nice gesture from Ashley Williams," said the Wales boss.

"I spoke with Ashley yesterday, and it's a different game, there is no getting around it.

"It's a friendly building to the big one against Belgium in September, but there is a different slant on the game for obvious reasons.

"It is fitting. Aaron is our captain and he will be leading the team out with Gary's two sons, Tom and Ed, and Craig is captain on the night, which is right thing to to and it is also a nice gesture from Ashley Williams."

Speed's father Roger, meanwhile, is to address the squad in the changing room before they take the field.

The match against Costa Rica will be the first that Coleman will be involved with as national boss, although Speed's assistant coach Osian Roberts will take charge of the team on the night.

Roberts was due to lead the team with Speed's other number two Raymond Verheijen until the Dutchman resigned last week - but he has confirmed he will be at the game after being invited by Speed's family.

Wales, who go into the game against Costa Rica have risen seven places to 42 in the latest Fifa rankings , recall Bolton full-back Sam Ricketts, who returns after a lengthy spell out through injury.

Coleman's squad also have a friendly against Mexico in New York booked for 27 May and another against Bosnia-Herzegovina at home on 15 August, and begin their 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign at home to Belgium on 7 September.

Wales Hoping Bellamy May Commit

Wales are hopeful Craig Bellamy will commit to another qualifying campaign for his country.

The Liverpool forward, 32, has said he is considering international retirement after the Gary Speed Memorial Match against Costa Rica on 29 February.

But Wales assistant Osian Roberts says Bellamy has had positive discussions with new Wales manager Chris Coleman.

"I've had no indications that he will be [retiring after the Costa Rica game]," Roberts said.

"He's had good discussions with Chris as well so hopefully that's a positive thing.

"Obviously we have to manage his injuries and his physical state, and we have to be careful with that.

"But the form he's been in with Liverpool has been absolutely fantastic this year and for us it's imperative he's in the team and around the squad, because not only is he influential on the pitch, he's extremely influential off the pitch and in the dressing room."

Bellamy has scored 19 goals in 67 games for Wales since his debut in 1998 against Jamaica and has impressed for Liverpool this season after leaving their Premier League rivals Manchester City for a second spell at An field.

Much of Bellamy's career has been blighted by serious knee injuries and the Cardiff-born player has had to carefully manage his fitness and playing demands.

But Roberts says that the veteran's influence on his Wales team-mates is second to none and would be a very hard personality to replace.

"They all look up to him, he's the ultimate professional. He trains like he plays, with great intensity, and that's why you have to manage the workload with him," Roberts said.

"He sets the standards and makes sure that players around him also are raising the bar and he's a great example to any young player out there.

"And as a result that rubs off on the others, be that on the training pitch, on the pitch itself, or in the dressing room."

While the Wales backroom staff hope that Bellamy continues playing, they are certain that his successor as captain - 21-year-old Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey - is perfect for the role.

"I can't see any reason for that [to change], he's grown into the role particularly well," Roberts said.

"When we sat down and looked at the candidates we thought he's going to be captain of Wales some day, so we might as well start now and let him grow into it a little bit earlier.

"The proof is in the pudding really, in how he's grown into it, matured into it, and if he can be the leader of Wales for years to come then we're going to be in extremely good hands."