Page 60 - Soccer360 Issue 104

BEL L INGHAM
ON THE RISE
Jude is much more than a prospect; he is already one of the very best players in the world. He completes his transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid as the reigning Bundesliga Player of the Season, having scored eight goals and provided five assists from midfield in 2022/23. He did a lot more than that, covering more distance (322km) than any of his Dortmund teammates last term, while his 482 duels won was the best among all players in the Bundesliga.
BIRMINGHAM CITY RETIRED HIS SHIRT NUMBER
Jude grew up as a supporter of Birmingham City and joined their academy aged seven. He rapidly rose through the ranks and became the youngest player to ever feature for the English club’s first team, doing so at the age of 16 years and 38 days old. Although he made just 44 appearances for the club before joining Borussia Dortmund
in 2020, Birmingham City quickly retired his
shirt number of 22. The club explained: “In such a remarkably short space of time, Jude has become an iconic figure at the Blues, showing what can be achieved through talent, hard work and dedication. We decided it would be fitting to retire this number, to remember one of our own and to inspire others.”
Football runs in the family as Mark Bellingham, Jude’s father, was once a legend of non-league football in England’s West Midlands region. Playing as a striker, he scored over 700 goals during his non-league career, which clearly helped inspire his sons, given that Jude is now at the most successful club in history and his younger brother Jobe plays for the Birmingham City first team.
After three very successful years in Germany, Bellingham leaves Borussia Dortmund having etched his name in the club’s history books. By scoring on his debut against Duisburg,
he became the club’s youngest competitive goalscorer as he was just 17 years and 77 days old. Although teammate Youssoufa Moukoko later overtook him for that record, Bellingham remains the youngest ever Englishman to start a Champions League match, doing so vs Lazio aged 17 years and 113 days. He’ll
quickly add to his 23 Champions League appearances at the Bernabéu.
Although a super fan of Birmingham City. The two England internationals Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard were a
great inspiration to Jude. Following
in their footsteps he is now
an England international himself.
Left: Father Mark Bellingham, standing next to Jude, his mother, and his brother
Bottom Left: Bellingham made exceptional strides at Dortmund
Above: The great Wayne Rooney is idolized by many players - Jude Bellingham being one of them.
Bottom Right: Steven Gerrard playing for Liveropoo.
58 SOCCER360
HE ARRIVES AS THE BUNDESLIGA PLAYER OF
THE SEASON
HIS FATHER IS A NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALLING
LEGEND
BELLINGHAM MADE HISTORY AT BORUSSIA
DORTMUND
HIS IDOLS WAYNE ROONEY
AND STEVEN GERRARD
G R I E Z L MA A L NI G N A 5 O 0 N 0 E G T A O M W E A S T P C L H A Y E D