Craig Bellamy appointed as Cardiff City player development manager

Craig Bellamy of Cardiff City scores the opening goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Cardiff City and Chelsea at Cardiff City Stadium on May 11, 2014
© Getty Images
Cardiff City announce that former striker Craig Bellamy has been appointed as the club's player development manager.

Former Wales striker Craig Bellamy has been appointed as player development manager at Championship side Cardiff City.

The 37-year-old will be overseeing the development of the club's younger players on and off the field, assisting all age groups in their progression towards first-team football.

Speaking of Bellamy's return to Cardiff, chief executive Ken Choo said: "The club has recently undertaken an internal restructure of its academy and development programmes.

"With this firmly in mind, it's felt that having somebody of Craig's stature in this role can be of huge significance to us moving forward. I know that Neil Warnock feels Craig's influence here can create greater synergy between our youth players and the first team with the ultimate goal of bringing players through to senior football.

"Craig's experience and knowledge of the game speaks for itself and we felt he was the only candidate we wanted to take this critical new position at the club. We hope that our younger players will see Craig as a role model, somebody who's playing career they want to emulate."

Bellamy began his professional career at Norwich City in 1996 and played for a number of top-flight clubs before hanging up his boots in 2014 following a two-year spell with the Bluebirds.

Leeds manager Neil Warnock looks on prior to the npower Championship match between Derby County and Leeds United at Pride Park on December 8, 2012
Read Next:
Warnock: 'Lambert suffered horrific injury'
>


Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton24166240152554
2Newcastle UnitedNewcastle25171748202852
3Reading2414463632446
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2514473028246
5Leeds UnitedLeeds25143834241045
6Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2512672824442
7Derby CountyDerby2511772418640
8Barnsley2511594337638
9Norwich CityNorwich25114104137437
10Fulham2499641301136
11Preston North EndPreston2510693332136
12Aston Villa2581162624235
13Birmingham CityBirmingham259883035-535
14Brentford2596103231133
15Ipswich TownIpswich2587102529-431
16Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2578103234-229
17Queens Park RangersQPR2585122436-1229
18Bristol City2583143335-227
19Cardiff CityCardiff2476112738-1127
20Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2575133745-826
21Burton Albion2567122634-825
22Blackburn RoversBlackburn2566132940-1124
23Wigan AthleticWigan2547142031-1119
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham2534182555-3013