Jude Bellingham says mum Denise is key to his success and relies on ex-policeman dad Mark as his agent
SHOWING maturity beyond his years, boasting a strong work ethic and having impeccable manners, you can tell Jude Bellingham has been brought up the right way.
The England star, who is remarkably still only 19, has reached the pinnacle.
In signing for Real Madrid in a £115million deal, he will now follow in the footsteps of Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham, legends who all graced the Bernabeu pitch with poise.
Behind the teenager’s remarkable success is mum Denise, who he calls ‘queen’ and dad Mark, who was his first footballing hero.. until Wayne Rooney came along.
While brother Jobe, 17, is following in his elder sibling’s footsteps – rising through the ranks at Birmingham City to become a target for Premier League clubs.
It’s the Bellinghams’ strong family bond that has contributed towards his impressive achievements, so young.
A mother’s role
Back in December, while on England duty at the World Cup in Qatar, Jude let slip that mother Denise, who works in human resources, still made his bed.
That caused much hilarity among his team-mates, who soon ribbed him when he returned to Gareth Southgate’s training camp.
But he also shared on the role the matriarch of the Bellingham clan has continued to play in his rise to the top.
“The role my mum is playing is massive,” he began.
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“I think at the minute it is probably the biggest role of anyone, even probably more than my coaches and managers, to be honest.”
She has helped Jude remain grounded, as world football stardom beckoned.
In 2020, Borussia Dortmund paid £22million to his boyhood club Birmingham City, after he enjoyed a breakout season which saw the club retire his No22 shirt.
Denise joined Jude in Germany and helped manage his affairs as he settled in, while father Mark, a former police sergeant, stayed in the Midlands with younger son Jobe.
It was a sacrifice they took to ensure both their sons had the support they needed, with Denise able to help Jude focus solely on his football and not get spoiled by the money young, brilliant footballers make.
Idolising dad
Growing up, boys often idolise their dads.
And Jude was no different. His dad was his first hero.
Mark Bellingham enjoyed a prolific non-league career playing for clubs, including Stourbridge, Leamington, Sutton Coldfield, Bromsgrove Rovers, and Halesowen Town.
A master poacher, it is claimed he scored over 700 goals at semi-pro level in 900 games. Think a non-league Pele.
While he played football, Mark worked for West Midland Police as a sergeant.
“We talk about footballing heroes, and my dad was like my first,” Jude told the FA website in 2021.
“When you go and watch him play every week in non-League, you know it’s not the Premier League or anything, but seeing the way that he played and the atmosphere, it made me fall in love with football so he was probably my first hero.
“After the first few times of going, I’d start to pay a bit more attention to the games and stuff, the atmosphere and he’s scoring goals so you see him celebrating and stuff like that – you want that to be me.
“Growing up, he’d always give me tips on what I could do and now it gets to a certain age and it sort of flips and that’s brilliant because we have that sort of relationship like father and son and then as I got older, like coach and player.”
Mark is now Jude’s agent and acted as his representative in dealings with Real Madrid as he embarks on a new journey.
Following in his footsteps..
Jude’s path has seen him become an integral part of the England set up, a success story in Germany with Borussia Dortmund, where he was recently named Bundesliga player of the season, and now a Los Blancos galactico.
But back in Stourbridge, his younger brother Jobe is starting to make a name for himself.
Comparing his career to his dad’s, 17-year-old Jobe once said: “If I get anywhere near that I’ll have had a great career. I’ll try my best!
“My mum, dad, brother, grandparents — they are the reason I’m here today, because of all the sacrifices they have made.”
He has already bettered his father’s.
Despite his tender years, Jobe played 22 times in the Championship last season.
He has also been capped at U16, U17 and U18 level for the Three Lions. There is every chance he will play alongside Jude for his country, a new version of the Charltons, perhaps.
Premier League new boys Burnley have been linked with a £15million bid for the talent.
Sunderland are also said to be in the race, but his manager Lee Bowyer has urged for caution.
“Whenever he steps on the pitch now everyone is going to expect him to be like his brother,” the ex-Leeds star said.
“Don’t do that to the lad. It’s not fair on him. He’s going to be his own player, himself. We believe he will be good.”
With parents like Denise and Mark, you don’t doubt it.