Craig Bellamy believes he is ready for the step up to management as he hopes to lead Wales into an exciting new era.

Bellamy had an impressive playing career, which included a spell at Rovers under Mark Hughes, and has served as Vincent Kompany’s number two at Anderlecht and Burnley in recent seasons.

The pressure is on after succeeding Rob Page, who ended a 64-year wait to qualify for the World Cup finals. He also reached the second round of Euro 2020.

However, the side missed out on this summer’s tournament in Germany and the writing was on the wall for Page following poor displays against Gibraltar and Slovakia.

If there is anyone who knows what it means to represent Wales, it is Bellamy, who won 78 caps on the international stage before hanging up his boots.

“The last three or four months I was happy, but it became clear to me that I needed more,” Bellamy told a press conference.

Bellamy was a great player for WalesBellamy won 78 Wales caps as a player (Image: PA)

“I needed to look for a number one spot for my progression. I was working with Vincent in that period and then he went to Bayern.

“I was still looking at club positions but Wales has always been very important to me.

“I was born here and to lead your national team is rare, but I’m grateful to get it as a first opportunity.

“Mark Hughes and Gary Speed came to mind and it became clear to me that if this opportunity came, I wanted it. The more I got into the process, the more excited I became.”

The 44-year-old courted controversy at times during his playing days but is determined to prove his doubters wrong.

“I understand the perception of me, lack of experience and temperament were thrown at me in the past,” he added. “It will be important to dismiss those concerns in three or four years’ time.

“I put myself under more scrutiny that anyone, I am so determined to be the best human being I can be. That drives me – it’s so important to be the best I can be.

“I’m not the finished article and if I’ve made mistakes, I have apologised and learned from them. I want to impact people’s lives in a positive way.”

Attention now turns to the upcoming Nations League campaign, which kicks off in September with fixtures against Turkey and Montenegro.

Having penned a four-year deal, the ambition of reaching the 2026 World Cup and Euro 2028 will also be firmly in Bellamy’s mind.

"I have key principles on what I stand for as a person,” he continued. “It’s hard work, it’s a privilege to play this game.

“Players are aware of that and they embrace that. It’s about being willing to learn, open-minded to everything.

“For me it’s respect as well, you respect the environment and the people you work for. Respect for the shirt.

“Can you leave that shirt in a better place than when you found it? Those are huge parts to me, even how you leave the room.

“When we go to an away game, we clean up after ourselves and leave it as we found it. There’s a level of respect, there has to be.”