When Craig Bellamy shook Harry Wilson’s hand to congratulate him on making his Wales debut in Brussels in October 2013, it felt like a symbolic moment for Welsh football.
This was to be Bellamy’s 78th and final appearance for his country, while Wilson had come on as a late substitute to become Wales’ youngest player at 16 years and 207 days.
A minute after Wilson’s introduction, Bellamy set up Aaron Ramsey’s goal to earn a creditable 1-1 draw against a star-studded Belgium side on their way to the 2014 World Cup the following summer.
Qualification had long been out of Wales’ grasp and yet, even as they approached a 56th year without playing at a major tournament, there was a sense that something special was brewing.
“I see a bright future for us,” Bellamy said at the time. “Although I may not be around myself when we do eventually qualify.”
Wales did not have to wait long. In fact, they realised their long-held dream at the next attempt as they not only qualified for Euro 2016 but soared to the semi-finals.
Wilson had fallen out of favour by then and watched as a fan in France, while Bellamy worked as a TV pundit as Ramsey, Gareth Bale and others took Wales to historic new heights.
But when they qualified for the following European Championship and 2022 World Cup, Wilson was back in the fold to experience the magic of a major tournament for himself. The Fulham attacking midfielder now has 54 caps.
On Friday, he will be reunited with Bellamy as the former captain begins his reign as Wales head coach with a Nations League match at home to Turkey.
“When I started to understand football he was in probably the prime of his career. Being a Liverpool fan as well, him playing for the club and being Welsh, he was definitely someone I watched and looked up to,” says Wilson, who started his career at Liverpool.
“My first game was his last so I managed to cross paths briefly with him as a player. To see the standard he set was great, and I feel like he’s taken that into his coaching.”