Bellamy, Craig

[TLW]

CRAIG BELLAMY PROFILE by Rob Molyneux and Dave Usher   Date of Birth - 13/07/79 Nationality - Welsh Position - Striker Games - 42 Goals - 9 Cost - £6m Club Hons (Lpool) - Community Shield 2006 Club Hons (other) - Scottish Cup 2005 Intnl Hons - Welsh Caps Other Clubs - Norwich, Coventry, Newcastle, Celtic (loan), Blackburn, West Ham

Petulant striker Craig Bellamy joined Liverpool from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2006 after manager Rafael Benitez triggered a release clause in his contract with a bid in believed to be in the region of £6.5million. The Welshman’s career to date has been somewhat turbulent, both on and off the field. Prior to what is believed by many to be his ‘last chance’ at a ‘Big Club’, he played for a host of clubs including Newcastle United, Celtic and Blackburn Rovers.

Bellamy, who had been honoured as PFA Young Player of the year in 2002 as a Newcastle United player, left St James’ Park for Celtic on loan for the second half of the 2004/5 season following a public falling out with then manager, and former Red, Graeme Souness. He scored nine goals in the remainder of the season, helping the club to win the Scottish Cup, his first club honour in professional football.

At the end of the 2004/5 season Bellamy was sold to Blackburn Rovers, where he would team up with former Wales manager, Mark Hughes with reasonable success. During his time at Blackburn he scored 17 goals and reminded many sceptical football watchers of his talents.

His phenomenal pace and the number of goals scored for Blackburn, combined with the clause in his contract, alerted the interest of Rafa Benitez, who was happy to sign the ‘boyhood Liverpool fan’ in the summer, despite the cloud of a court case hanging over the player.

Upon his arrival at Liverpool Craig immediately won a Community Shield winners medal, setting up Peter Crouch’s winning goal after impressing as a second half substitute.

His first goal for the club came at the Kop end in a Champions League qualifying match with Maccabi Haifa, whilst his first Premiership goal came against his former club Blackburn. His early season form was patchy, but as soon as the cloud of the court case was lifted, the old Craig Bellamy returned and the goals became a bit more frequent, away from home at least.

An impressive double at Wigan seemed to give him a much needed confidence boost, but it wasn't long before the fiery Welshman hit the headlines for the wrong reasons once more, when he reportedly attacked John Arne Riise with a golf club after the Norwegian refused to sing on a karaoke night!

That incident happened during a training camp in Portugal Rafa Benitez had taken his players to ahead of the massive Champions League clash with Barcelona in the Nou Camp. The feuding pair were hammered by the press, but had the last laugh when they both scored in a memorable 2-1 win for the reds in Catalonia. Bellamy celebrated his goal by swinging an imaginary golf club, and then later teed up Riise for the winning goal.

It was to be the last significant act the Welshman would make as a Liverpool player, as he struggled to hold down a place in the side and was sold to West Ham United in the summer of 2007.