Cremers Leaves Wales Assistant Coach Role
Piet Cremers has resigned from his position as assistant coach of the Wales men's national team, leaving head coach Craig Bellamy without one of his key backroom staff members.
The 31-year-old Dutch coach has been appointed as the new head coach of Club NXT, the youth academy team of Club Brugge that competes in the Belgian second division, succeeding Jonas De Roeck.
Cremers previously served as head of performance analysis and insights under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City. He was among Bellamy's first appointments in August 2024 after Bellamy assumed the role of Wales national team manager.
"I am proud to be joining Club NXT. Club Brugge's clear soccer vision and focus on talent development align perfectly with my approach," Cremers stated on the Club Brugge website.
"I look forward to working with the staff to create an environment where players can develop to their full potential and be ready for the step up to the first team."
Context on Bellamy and Cremers' Partnership
Bellamy and Cremers previously worked together as assistant coaches under Vincent Kompany during his tenure as manager at Burnley. The duo contributed to Burnley's Championship title win in 2023. Although Burnley spent only one season in the Premier League, their achievements and style of play led Bayern Munich to appoint Kompany as their head coach.
Bellamy had been in advanced negotiations to become Burnley's manager before reports surfaced last week that his potential move to Turf Moor would not proceed. Football Association of Wales (FAW) chief executive Noel Mooney has expressed his expectation that Bellamy will remain as Wales head coach.
The FAW issued a statement expressing gratitude to Cremers for his contributions to the Cymru men's national team and wishing him success in his future endeavors.
"The FAW would like to thank Cremers for his work with the Cymru men's national team and wish him the best for the future."
The Coach Who Meant 'Everything' to Bellamy
Wales' Dafydd Pritchard analyzed Cremers' significance to Bellamy three months into Cremers' tenure as Wales assistant coach.
Given Cremers' four-year experience as an analyst under Guardiola at Manchester City, it is understandable why Bellamy relied heavily on him during Wales matches.
Bellamy is known for his energetic presence on the touchline, and whenever he returned to the dugout, it was often to consult Cremers and review information on his screen.
Together, they analyzed the game in real time, reviewed replays to better understand events on the pitch, and processed data to determine tactical adjustments.
Although the Wales managerial role is Bellamy's first senior head coach position, his established working relationship with Cremers from their time at Burnley provided a strong foundation.
When asked what Cremers contributed to his Wales setup, Bellamy simply said: "Everything."
Under their guidance, Burnley achieved the Championship title in 2023. Despite only one season in the Premier League, their accomplishments and style influenced Bayern Munich's decision to hire Kompany as manager.
Upon taking charge of Wales and assembling his coaching staff, Bellamy prioritized bringing Cremers on board.
