Craig Bellamy Bio Send To Friend  

Once described by Sir Bobby Robson as 'a man who could start a fight in an empty room' controversy has always followed Bellamy, but such is his effect on the pitch that Manchester City paid an estimated £14m to West Ham United in order acquire his fiery talents in January 2009.

Bellamy's career began with Norwich City, where he broke into the first team in the 1997-98 season. And he was handed his full international debut by Wales in 1998, coming on as a substitute against Jamaica.

After 91 games for Norwich, scoring 34 goals, he moved into the Premier League but it was something of a surprise when unfashionable Coventry City signed him for £6.5m at the start of the 2000-01 campaign. After failing to shine in the Midlands, it was a surprise when Newcastle United boss Sir Bobby Robson chose to pay £6m to sign him.

After a slow start Bellamy became one of the buys of the season, as a number of pulsating displays propelled the Magpies into the title race. However, his Newcastle career was dogged by injury problems, although the real controversy arrived when Graeme Souness was installed as the club's manager. The pair clashed within a matter of weeks. Bellamy was seen, by the TV cameras, to mouth a series of obscenities towards the bench when substituted in a draw against Charlton Athletic in October and it seemed like he would be sold as a war of words erupted. He also had a much-publicised fall-out with Alan Shearer.

Hours before the transfer deadline passed Celtic came in for the player and signed him on loan for the remainder of the campaign. Although Souness said the situation would be reviewed in the summer there was no doubt Bellamy had no future at Newcastle.

After returning from Celtic he joined Blackburn Rovers on a four-year contract, where he re-united with former Wales boss Mark Hughes, got his head down and proved his worth scoring 17 goals during 2005-06. His pace and rediscovered goalscoring form attracted the attention of Liverpool and in July 2006 the Reds paid £6.5m to take him to Anfield.

It appeared Bellamy was settling down and maturing at Liverpool but in February 2007 he allegedly attacked team mate John Arne Riise with a golf club during a team training session in Portugal. Benitez played down the incident, although come the summer Bellamy was gone as he completed a move to West Ham United for a fee of £7.5m.

An injury ravaged season limited him to just eight games, however, after returning from injury Bellamy proved his worth, hitting five goals in 16 matches in the 2008-09 season ahead of his transfer window move to Eastlands.

West Ham turned down several offers from both City and Tottenham Hotspur before finally relenting after Bellamy made it clear he wished to again team-up with City boss Mark Hughes under whom he had previously played.