Craig Bellamy: Head coach ‘focused on Wales’ amid Celtic links – Noel Mooney

Bellamy, who started his coaching career with Cardiff City’s academy before working as Vincent Kompany’s assistant at Anderlecht and Burnley, has impressed in his first senior managerial role.

He made the best start of any Wales boss following his appointment in July 2024, going nine matches unbeaten and winning promotion to the top tier of the Nations League while implementing an adventurous new style of play.

The former Liverpool and Manchester City player is in the midst of the most testing spell of his tenure so far, with Wales losing three of their past four games in all competitions.

If Celtic were to prise Bellamy away, they would have to pay what FAW sources have described to BBC Sport Wales as a “significant, seven-figure” compensation fee, which would be higher if it was activated before next year’s World Cup.

In terms of salary, however, Bellamy earns far less than some of the other candidates for the Celtic job – such as Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna – having taken a pay cut from his previous role as Burnley assistant coach.

“He [Bellamy] is going to get linked with roles. He’s an exciting coach who has really captured the imagination of a lot of people,” Mooney added.

“He will go from strength to strength with Cymru and I’m sure after us he will go on to manage the best teams in the world. I have no doubt about that.

“But, for now, we’re completely focused on getting to the World Cup. All of us. We say ‘Together Stronger’ at the FAW and Craig is right at the heart of that.

“As I say, six points in November is our goal, onto the play-offs, and then on to the World Cup we go.”