Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy are reportedly both being considered by Wales as potential successors to Rob Page.
Page had been leading the team for three-and-a-half years, guiding Wales to their first World Cup in 64 years and a run to the last 16 of Euro 2020. However, a disappointing Euro 2024 qualification campaign put Page under immense pressure over recent months, with lacklustre friendly performances against Gibraltar and Slovakia drawing criticism from fans.
Following discussions after the most recent international break, FAW bosses decided that change was necessary.
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It means Wales are now searching for a new manager to lead them into the upcoming Nations League campaign, which kicks off in September with a home match against Turkey followed by an away game in Montenegro.
The Times reports that former Manchester United and Wales wingers Giggs and Bellamy are potential candidates. Both were interviewed for the position previously, with Giggs beating ex-Manchester City and Liverpool player Bellamy to the role.
Giggs had a two-year stint as national team manager but was removed from his post – initially temporarily and then permanently, with Page stepping in – following his arrest on suspicion of actual bodily harm and assault against his former partner and her sister in November 2020. He was later acquitted of these charges.
He has recently returned to football as a director at League Two club Salford City, which he co-owns with his ex-Manchester United teammates.
Meanwhile, Bellamy is also being considered for the vacant managerial position at Burnley. The former Manchester City forward was previously Vincent Kompany’s assistant at Turf Moor before he took up the Bayern Munich job following Burnley’s Premier League relegation last season.
Currently, Bellamy is acting as Burnley’s caretaker manager while the club searches for a permanent replacement for Kompany to lead them in the Championship next season.
Other potential candidates for the job include Osian Roberts, Chris Coleman’s former assistant with the national team, who recently guided Como to Serie A alongside Cesc Fabregas. He also served as Patrick Vieira’s assistant at Crystal Palace.
Mark Hughes, another ex-Wales manager, has also been mentioned as a possible candidate. However, he was most recently dismissed by League Two Bradford City.
Eric Ramsay, the former Manchester United and Wales assistant coach who has just taken up his first head coaching role in the MLS with Minnesota United, is another name being considered.
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