By Graham Thomas
Joe Allen and Craig Bellamy go back a long way – way before the former was calling the current Wales manager, “Boss”.
But going from providing the shots to calling them, is something Allen himself may well do when he hangs up his boots.
At the moment, however, all he is prepred to do is just not rule out the idea.
“Honestly, it’s something over the last few years where I’ve started thinking about what comes after my playing days, and despite putting a lot of thought into it, I have no idea,” says the Wales and Swansea City midfielder ahead of Saturday’s Nations League clash in Turkey.
“I have no idea if it would be staying in the game, going into coaching seriously, or not. Right now, I want to maximise on the playing and we’ll see what will be.”
Allen has always been someone reluctant to count his chickens before they are hatched – even the ones he used to keep at the bottom of his garden.
He prefers to live in the moment and for the time being that means as a player, albeit one who retired from international football after the 2022 World Cup, but then changed his mind last month.
The man who did the persuading was Bellamy, Allen’s former Wales teammate between 2009 and 2013.
Bellamy turned to coaching afrter his retirement, a slow burn at first but one that ignited after he teamed up with Vincent Kompany at Anderlecht and then Burnley.
“There was no doubt to me he would make a great coach or manager,” says Allen of his newest manager.
“I was lucky enough to have played with him and not only was he a brilliant player, but it was clear he had a really great mind for football.
“He’s an avid football fan and having seen him work, and seen what he’s done at club level, I think it always felt like at some point he’d come into the Welsh set up and that’s the way it’s worked out.”
Allen was one of several Wales players who decided to fold away their dragon badge and shirt after the underwhelming campaign in Qatar.
He was not part of the last Euros qualifying journey under Rob Page, but had his interest revived when Bellamy was appointed in July.
He has admiited there was unfinished business and at 34 – after playing against Montenego in Cardiff last month – business hours are still open, though nobody knows how long for.
“Having been away for a couple of years, I’ve come back into a group that’s still in a great place.
“I think that, coupled with Craig and his team coming in with their new ideas, and energy, I think it’s been a match made in heaven. And I think the start he has had reflects that. The task now is to build on that.”
Bellamy is already the first Wales manager to remain unbeaten after his opening four games and that can be extended to five if they avoid defeat in Kayseri.
But Turkey are top of League B Group 4 with 10 points from four games and a victory over Wales will secure promotion to League A as group winners.
They have won four and drawn one of their last five home matches and one of those victories was against Wales a year ago when they carved out a 2-0 win in qualfying for Euro 2024.
If Wales do manage to win, there’s a good chance Harry Wilson will have played a significant role.
The Fulham striker has been Wales’ best player in recent times and is in exceptional form at club level with three goals in his last two Premier League games.
Among those to have been impressed – but not surprised – is Allen.
“Where he is now is where we all expected him to go,” says Allen of his former Anfield teammate.
“I was with him when he was a young kid at Liverpool, and it was clear that he was going to be a brilliant player and have a great career.
“I think he’s getting a lot of plaudits that he fully deserves recently. In truth, I think he’s been a key player for us for a number of years now. Certainly, in that bracket of key players for us.
“With Fulham, he’s been making a big impact there as well. It’s great to see and hopefully he can ride this wave and take his form into his future with Wales.”
