Nobody has demonstrated a more thorough understanding of the true meaning of the ‘West Ham way’ than Craig Bellamy and now he has hinted when he may be ready to manage his old club.
When West Ham were relegated from the Premier League just over a week ago, Nuno Espirito Santo was widely expected to depart.
The Hammers and Nuno had a mutual break clause in his three-year deal, which has two seasons left to run.
A host of managers were linked as replacements for Nuno including former West Ham trio Scott Parker, Slaven Bilic and Craig Bellamy.
Bellamy may be open to West Ham job when Nuno’s deal expires
The potential appointment of Bellamy was one which captured the imagination of many Hammers fans, who loved him and his attitude as a player for the club.
Bellamy has also impressed in his roles within management so far, including as boss of Wales.
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After a summit meeting, West Ham – to the surprise of many – elected to stick with Nuno after he reassured the club he wanted to stay and get the club back in the top flight.
With international sides meeting up for June friendlies, it has been the first chance for the press to put those West Ham links to Bellamy.
The former firebrand striker, who delivered what is considered the best ever assessment of the true meaning of the West Ham way – which you can see below – says he was aware of the speculation.
In fact Bellamy admitted some of his Wales squad contacted him to ask if it was true he could leave amid links to the Hammers.
But he insisted he is committed to Wales for another two years, suggesting he will then be open to a club job after that time.
And that just so happens to coincide with when Nuno’s three-year deal will come to an end.
Bellamy had players calling him amid West Ham links
“I couldn’t see it being fair for me to walk away, do you understand?” Bellamy told the press when quizzed on the links to the likes of West Ham – as broadcast on Sky Sports News.
“I’m like ‘that’s not right, that’s not right’. If they (the Wales players) have enough of me then okay. But when you’ve got one or two players ringing you up (asking) like ‘is this true?’.
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“Nah, we’re not going anywhere, we’re in, we’re going again.
“We’ve got another two years, let’s go. And I feel that’s right. I’ve always wanted to do this role, always. I didn’t when, if it was going to be then or in a number of years time, I don’t know but this was always something I wanted in my life.”
Bellamy endeared himself further to West Ham fans once his career was finished by always speaking highly of the club.
As well as Liverpool and West Ham, Bellamy also played for some other top clubs with famous support, including Scottish giants Celtic and Newcastle.
But in an interview back in 2022, Bellamy insisted West Ham fans were the best he ever played for in a passionate rant defending the West Ham way.
Hammers fans are often belittled by the media and rival fans for being too demanding and mock ‘the West Ham way’.
The inference from those dismissing the West Ham way as a fallacy is that it is Barcelona-esque tika taka football. And that while fans of clubs like Liverpool and Celtic are perfectly entitled to expect a certain type of football, West Ham’s are not.
But that only demonstrates a lack of knowledge about the club ethos which was cemented into West Ham’s history by the likes of Ron Greenwood and John Lyall.
One person who clearly gets it is Bellamy and that fact alone would make him a great fit as a potential future manager, perhaps to replace Nuno given the timings could be perfectly synchronised.
“Every day going into that training ground I would leave in stitches,” Bellamy told The Central Club podcast.
“Even the old players who played for the club years ago would come in for their dinners, it was amazing honestly.
“And do you know they get a bad rep the (West Ham) fans. But they were brilliant.
“They’re the most knowledgeable fans of all of them I ever played for, you couldn’t kid ’em.
“Do you know you see people go around kicking people and I’ve seen fans cheer like ‘Yea but he has a go’. He has a go at what?! He gives the ball away every time.
“There (West Ham) they won’t accept that. Because you’ve got to be a good player as well. ‘We expect you to have a go, we pay money for you to have a go, but what are you like on the ball and also what are you like when we’re not happy, do you still have the balls to go and get the ball?’
“And if you do then they’ll have you, they’re with you then. And I loved that about them, they weren’t kidded on because they’ve watched too many great players down the years, they’ve been brought up on Bobby Moore and all that type of stuff.
“It’s just a special club. So many players, like James Collins and all that, you don’t leave once you go there. You stay around there. Because it grips you, it’s that club it’s like once you’ve played for them you’re like ‘Oh I get it now, I get what this club is’.
“Even the humour of the fans, honestly. You see me smile as soon as I mention them. I just had so many happy memories there and even when I left I didn’t want to leave, honest truth you ask anyone there, I didn’t want to leave.”
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