Wales Set for World Cup Qualifier Against Liechtenstein with Young Assistant Coach
World Cup Qualifier: Liechtenstein vs Wales
Venue: Rheinpark Stadion, Vaduz Date: Saturday, 15 November Kick-off: 17:00 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two, BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, Sports Extra, and the BBC Sport website and app, along with live text commentary.
Wales assistant coach Piet Cremers cites Pep Guardiola and Vincent Kompany as major influences in his promising career, which is poised for a significant advancement.
Having gained experience under the two Manchester City icons, Cremers is well-equipped to lead Wales in their crucial World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein on Saturday, stepping in for head coach Craig Bellamy, who is suspended for the match.
At just 31 years old, Cremers has been entrusted with the team for this pivotal game. Bellamy expressed confidence in his assistant's capabilities, stating, "We spend a lot of time together analyzing our opponents and discussing strategies. He has provided me with invaluable insights into the game, both during our time at Burnley and now. His experience and background have made him a tremendous asset, and I believe he truly deserves this opportunity."
Cremers is set to become the youngest coach to lead a UEFA national team in a competitive match since Terry Neill managed Northern Ireland in 1971 at the age of 29. Although relatively young in coaching, Cremers boasts extensive top-level experience that he hopes will one day see him take on a managerial role independently.
The Dutch coach began his career at Manchester City as a match analyst for the under-23 team before being promoted to chief analyst under Guardiola in 2018, contributing to four Premier League title victories. After leaving City in 2022, he joined Kompany’s staff at Burnley, playing a crucial role in the club's promotion to the Premier League as champions with a remarkable 101 points.
During his time at Burnley, Cremers developed a strong partnership with Bellamy, who recognized his potential and appointed him to his coaching staff upon taking the helm of the Welsh national team in the summer of 2024. Reflecting on Cremers' contributions, Bellamy remarked, "Everything we achieved at Burnley was due to him. We dominated the league, and that had never been done before. Piet truly transformed our approach, and I owe much of our success to his insights."
Bellamy and Cremers are now focused on guiding Wales toward qualification for their second consecutive World Cup, a feat the team has not achieved since 1958. Cremers has already turned down an offer from Belgian club Club Brugge to manage their reserve team, choosing to remain loyal to Wales and Bellamy during the qualification campaign. However, the day will come when he will embark on his journey as a head coach.
For now, the priority remains the upcoming match against Liechtenstein and the quest for World Cup qualification.