Burnley consider former Liverpool striker as next manager

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Burnley’s season ended in the worst possible way on Wednesday when a 1-0 home defeat to Manchester City confirmed their immediate return to the Championship, just one year after Scott Parker guided them back to the top flight.It is the club’s third relegation in five seasons, and the pattern of yo-yo football between the Premier League and the second tier has now become the defining characteristic of life at Turf Moor.Something has to change, and that conversation is already underway at boardroom level.Parker’s future as manager is in the balance.The 45-year-old took over from Vincent Kompany in July 2024 following the previous relegation and delivered promotion in his first season, which was exactly what was asked of him.But the Premier League return lasted just one campaign, and sources indicate Parker himself is unsure whether he wants to continue, with an amicable parting seen as a genuine possibility despite having a year remaining on his contract.Discussions between Parker and club chair Alan Pace are expected to determine the outcome in the coming days.If Parker does leave, the manager whose name has surfaced most prominently in early discussions is Steven Gerrard.The Liverpool legend has been without a club since leaving Al Ettifaq by mutual consent in January 2025, has recently become tax exempt following the required period outside the UK after his time in Saudi Arabia, and is understood to be actively open to a Championship role.Gerrard won the Scottish Premiership title with Rangers in 2020/21 with a historic unbeaten league campaign, 102 points, just 13 goals conceded across 38 games, and despite a difficult spell at Aston Villa, his desire to return to English management is genuine and his profile would bring immediate attention and credibility to whichever club he joins.Alan Pardew has publicly backed Gerrard as a Premier League-ready manager, and Burnley would represent a credible platform for him to rebuild his reputation in a league he knows.But Gerrard is not the only name Alan Pace admires, and the second candidate on Burnley’s radar is one that carries a very different kind of Liverpool connection.As per The Guardian, the manager Burnley’s chair is said to genuinely admire is Craig Bellamy, who is currently serving as the Wales national team head coach.Bellamy played at Liverpool between 2006 and 2007, and again from 2011 to 2012, and was a fan favourite at Anfield despite the relatively brief nature of both stints.Across his two spells at Liverpool, Bellamy made 44 appearances and scored 13 goals, bringing the kind of relentless energy and direct running that supporters took to immediately.As a player across his entire career, Bellamy was one of the most consistently dangerous forwards of his generation.He made over 500 professional appearances and scored more than 130 goals across spells at Norwich, Coventry, Newcastle, Blackburn, Celtic, Liverpool, West Ham, Manchester City, and Cardiff.He represented Wales 78 times internationally, scoring 19 goals, and his pace and directness made him a nightmare for defenders throughout a career that spanned nearly two decades.His transition into management and coaching has been equally impressive.He worked extensively within the Cardiff City academy setup, developing young Welsh players and building a reputation as a thoughtful, technically demanding coach before being appointed Wales head coach.His work with the national team has drawn widespread praise for his organisation, intensity, and ability to develop players, and he was part of the coaching setup at Vincent Kompany’s Burnley, which gives him direct knowledge of the club, the infrastructure, and what is needed to succeed there.The complication is straightforward.Bellamy is currently committed to Wales, which means extracting him from his national team role this summer would require careful negotiation and genuine mutual agreement.Whether Pace can make that happen before the window on the Burnley job closes remains to be seen, but the interest is real, the connection to the club is established, and Bellamy’s profile makes him one of the most exciting managerial prospects available in British football right now.