BELLAMY THE KOMPANYMAN
City pals reunited in Clarets’ promotion push
THAT lucrative new three-year contract for Craig Bellamy is probably still sitting in the club safe at Anderlecht.
His industrious work, initially as the Belgium club’s Under-21s coach and then as assistant to Vincent Kompany, had been recognised and rewarded with the offer of a fresh deal.
But, not for the first time in a varied career, the former Liverpool and Wales striker was battling depression – and last September, after more than two years in Brussels, he left to prioritise his mental-health issues.
Bellamy was told he was free to return anytime – and the offer would be kept in the club safe.
With many of his previous coaching duties revolving around a young Anderlecht side, it was no shock to see Kompany seek out the 78-cap
Wales legend when he was appointed
Burnley’s new boss this summer, with the Clarets’ emphasis so clearly on promoting younger players following relegation to the second tier.
Luke Mcnally, 22, Taylor Harwood-bellis, 20, and 19-year-old CJ Egan-riley were brought in while experienced stars, including Ben Mee and James Tarkowski, left.
On Friday night, the Clarets get their league campaign under way at Huddersfield Town.
Alongside Kompany in the dugout will be Bellamy – their relationship going back to their time as team-mates in the Manchester City side managed by Mark Hughes.
Bellamy, 43, is in a better state of mind, and working long hours at the training ground, delighted to be back with Kompany.
“The pandemic didn’t help when I was at Anderlecht,” he admitted.
“Even if you don’t suffer from mental
issues, it was still a bad scenario for many people. I was in a different country. I loved the club and Brussels, but freedom of travel got taken away. “I felt the
anxiety creep in and you start overthinking things. I knew I needed to take myself away and reset.
“But I’m proud of what I achieved at Anderlecht – I know so much more about the game now.”
He does not expect to ever be entirely free from mentalhealth issues.
Bellamy added: “It’s a battle, but one which you are mostly on top of. But when you’re not, the mind can have a negative effect. It affects many people and shouldn’t be a taboo subject.”
He’s certainly a more mature character than the one who appeared in the serialisation of his old Liverpool team-mate John Arne-riise’s autobiography – that Bellamy attacked the Norwegian with a golf club.
Now it’s all about getting Burnley in the swing for promotion after their six-year spell in the Premier League ended in May.