Mark Hughes isn’t surprised that Craig Bellamy has had a strong start to his managerial career with Wales.
Hughes brought Bellamy to Rovers in 2005 and the pair were reunited at Manchester City several years later.
The Wales boss has had an unbeaten start as he prepares for the World Cup qualifying campaign, which kicks off against Kazakhstan this weekend.
"He always had a view in the dressing room, as you could imagine," Hughes told BBC Sport.
"But it was always good insight and when you were taking on board what he was saying, you realised he knew the game and what may have been going wrong in games.
"You knew then he could manage himself, and not a lot of players can do that. If you're able to do that, then it helps when you become a manager on the touchline.
"He was obsessive with the game, always going to matches, a real student. He was a deep-thinker about the sport and everything football involves.
"He's probably a bit more fiery than me, I'm a bit more low key, but he loves Wales and I'm just pleased he's doing so well.
“He deserves this opportunity and is making the most of it. Wales are in a good place at the moment."
Hughes is currently in charge at League Two strugglers Carlisle United. The Cumbrians are nine points adrift but have a game in hand heading towards the business stage of the season.
"The reality is you never retire from football. The game will retire you at some point but it hasn't done that to myself as yet," he added.
"It's always the matchday that you miss. I can forgo all the rest of the management during the week and the problems you face, but I always miss matchday. It was always the thing that got me going as a player.
"While I still have opportunities to be in the game, I will always take them because I love the energy and the emotion that football gives me."
