Gunter makes swift return to Welsh set-up as U19s boss
‘I’M PROUD TO BE GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY’, SAYS 109-CAP WALES LEGEND
CHRIS Gunter has been appointed the new head coach of Wales under19s.
The Wales legend won 109 caps for his country in a storied career and has most recently been part of Rob Page’s coaching staff before he was let go after the last camp.
However, upon the announcement of Craig Bellamy as Wales’ head coach, Gunter has been reassigned to the position of U19s boss, with a remit of implementing the tactical principles of the ‘Welsh Way’, the FAW have announced.
The former Cardiff City, Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Reading star will oversee the young Welsh side in games against France, Scotland and Liechtenstein in qualifiers for the Euros in the coming months.
“I’m really proud to be given the opportunity and I’m excited to get going in a different role,” Gunter said.
“It’s a good opportunity for me to learn and improve on my side, but more importantly I want to give my support and experience to the young players coming through.
“Having that experience of coming through the pathway with the under 17s, 19s, 21s and then the seniors, I think that can really help me in this role.
“Everybody sees the senior team as the most important, which it is because it’s the real cutting edge of results and qualifications.
“But underneath that it’s the responsibility of myself and the other age group coaches, who have been doing really well, to facilitate that. We want to give Craig and the rest of the senior staff the best players in the best place, so it’s exciting.”
Meanwhile, Wales’ Nations League game away to Montenegro has been moved to Niksic after UEFA deemed the Podgorica National Stadium pitch unplayable.
The September 9 fixture will take place at the 5,000-capacity City Stadium home of FK Sutjeska, although the attendance may be reduced to satisfy UEFA safety criteria.
The City Stadium has never hosted the Montenegro men’s national team since the nation became independent and joined UEFA and FIFA in 2007, only previously staging international women’s and under-21 matches.
A Football Association of Wales statement read: “Following concerns over the quality of the playing surface at the Gradski Stadion in Podgorica, UEFA has confirmed that the Nations League match between Montenegro and Cymru on 9 September will be moved to Niksic.
“The FAW acknowledges the inconvenience that this announcement will have on Cymru’s travelling fans, who have already planned for Podgorica.
“Therefore, the FAW is currently in discussions with UEFA and the Football Association of Montenegro to limit the disruption caused by this late announcement to the Cymru national team and The Red Wall.
“The FAW will provide an update when further information is confirmed.”
UEFA officials visited the Podgorica National Stadium on Sunday to examine a pitch that previous inspections discovered to be dry and cratered in places, with large areas of grass missing.
MARTYN Margetson has joined Craig Bellamy’s new-look Wales coaching staff having left his role as England goalkeeper coach.
Margetson will serve as Wales goalkeeper coach under Bellamy having previously held the post between 2011 and 2016, first under Gary Speed and then Chris Coleman.
The 52-year-old Welshman spent eight years with England having joined Gareth Southgate’s staff in 2016.
His exit was announced by the Football Association last week, with a new coaching team in place under interim boss Lee Carsley following Southgate’s resignation as England manager in July.
Margetson played for the likes of Manchester City, Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City, and was capped by Wales at senior level.
He is currently Championship club Swansea City’s head of goalkeeping a role which will remain unchanged having previously coached at Cardiff, West Ham United, Crystal Palace and Everton.
Margetson was on the Wales staff during the memorable run to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, which he describes as “one of the best experiences of my career”.
“I’m looking forward to working with the current group of goalkeepers and the wider squad, having worked with several of the players previously, and I hope my experience will be able to help bring success to the team,” Margetson said.
Margetson replaces Tony Roberts as Wales goalkeeper coach.
His return means Bellamy’s backroom team is complete, following the appointments of Andrew Crofts, James Rowberry, Piet Cremers and Ryland Morgans.
“When I looked at the group of new coaching staff, there’s a lot of experience of high-level club football but not of international football, which Martyn brings with him,” Bellamy said.
“The experience isn’t only of international football, but of reaching the final stages of tournament football.
“That experience and knowledge will be a huge benefit and getting him involved was a no-brainer.”
Wales play their first game under the Bellamy regime on Friday, 6th September, when Turkey come to the Cardiff City Stadium in the Nations League.
Bellamy was named Wales head coach in July following the departure of Rob Page in June.