Ex-Celtic star who clashed with Rangers hero in the running for top EFL job after shock managerial appointment

Former Celtic striker Craig Bellamy is among the leading contenders to take over from Vincent Kompany as Burnley’s new manager. The Clarets are currently searching for a candidate to replace Kompany after his shock move to 33-time German champions Bayern Munich.

The likes of Frank Lampard, Scott Parker, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and even David Moyes have been linked with the role at Turf Moor in recent weeks. However, according to reporter Alan Nixon, Bellamy’s chances of securing a permanent role are increasing after he was named as acting head coach on an interim basis.

Bellamy has been a part of the backroom team at Burnley since arriving as assistant to Kompany in the summer of 2022.

He also spent time working under the Belgian at Anderlecht, too, before making the move to the Clarets, and as such, he could be in a strong position to carry on Kompany's work at Turf Moor. 

Bellamy also has the advantage of knowing the club, the players and the system the squad has been built around and according to the report, he is thought to be a popular choice behind the scenes at Turf Moor. 

Bellamy has no experience in management, but he is reportedly deemed a worthy candidate by many behind the scenes at Burnley.

Bellamy joined Celtic in a six-month loan spell from Newcastle in 2005, after a clash with Magpies boss Graeme Souness who described him at the time as a ‘disruptive influence.’

The Welsh forward scored seven times in 12 league appearances for Martin O’Neil’s men, including a notable Old-Firm strike against Rangers. He failed to win the Premiership title during his stay but was able to lift the first piece of silverware in his career as his side defeated Dundee United in the Scottish Cup final.

Although he was known for being hot-headed and clashing with several managers in his playing days, those who have worked with Bellamy, including former Aberdeen boss Neil Warnock, have tipped him to be a successful manager in the future.

In 2018, Warnock said: “He has got all the attributes. He has been coaching now for a while. He was disappointed, I think not to get the Welsh job.”

Former Liverpool strike partner Peter Crouch also said: “I know he was hot-headed as player, but he's mellowed a bit now. He thinks about football 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

As it stands, however, Lampard is still the favourite for the Burnley job. The ex-Chelsea and Everton boss is priced as 2/5 to take on the job ahead of second favourite Bellamy at 3/1.

Lampard has been out of work since the end of the 2022/23 season where he won just one of his 11 games as interim Chelsea boss.