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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Richard Garnett

Former Liverpool star Craig Bellamy returns to football with new backroom role

Former Liverpool forward Craig Bellamy is back in English football after being appointed as Burnley's new assistant manager.

The Clarets are looking to plot an immediate Premier League return after they were relegated last season under interim boss Mike Jackson, following the sacking of Sean Dyche. With Vincent Kompany appointed as the Turf Moor club's new manager, the ex-Manchester City stalwart has announced his five-man backroom staff and that includes 42-year-old Bellamy as his assistant.

The ex-Welsh international played alongside Kompany at City for two seasons under Mark Hughes, making 51 appearances and scoring 15 goals, in-between two spells at Liverpool, wining the League Cup with the Reds in 2012. But the pair also worked alongside each other as a duo at Belgian club Anderlecht before Bellamy left in September 2021 due to mental health issues.

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Kompany's other appointments include Jelle ten Rouwelaar as goalkeeper coach - another who is ex-Anderlecht - Bram Geers and Floribert Ngalula as first team coaches and Richard Bredice is the new first team performance analyst and set-piece coach.

Kompany said: “I am delighted Craig, Jelle, Bram, Floribert and Richard have all agreed to join and play an integral role in helping to develop the players and build a successful team at Burnley Football Club. I have worked with all five men before and I know the qualities and experience they will bring to the club. We already have an excellent group of staff at the club and collectively we are excited to work together as we prepare for the new season."

Bellamy originally signed for Liverpool under Rafa Benitez in June 2006 for a £6million fee from Blackburn Rovers and helped the Reds to reach the 2007 Champions League final, in which he was an unused substitute. His first spell at Anfield was immortalised by an off-field incident when the Welshman struck teammate John Arne-Riise with a golf club whilst on a warm weather training camp, days before both players scored in the Nou Camp to earn Liverpool a famous 2-1 away win against Barcelona.

Bellamy returned to Anfield in 2011 under Kenny Dalglish, for one season, making 36 appearances and scoring nine goals.

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