For Birmingham City fans, the inspirational rise of Jude Bellingham will always be something to be proud of.
Just a few seasons ago, Bellingham was coming through the ranks at Birmingham City and running the midfield for Blues in the Championship.
It wasn’t long before people started to take note, realising that the now 20-year-old was a player with serious potential.
But even though he was tipped for big things, few would’ve thought that in such a short space of time, he’d go on to become arguably the best player in world football right now.
After three seasons with Borussia Dortmund, Bellingham earned a £113million move to Real Madrid where he’s since scored ten goals in his opening 11 La Liga outings.
He’s earned widespread plaudits and many tip him to go on and win Ballon D’Or titles in future years.
Where it all began…
Bellingham made his first-team debut for Birmingham City in the 2019/20 season; his breakthrough campaign.
It was his only full season with Blues with Bellingham featuring 41 times in the Championship that year.
Pep Clotet was the man who gave Bellingham his breakthrough. Former Real Madrid player and later assistant Aitor Karanka came in towards the very end of the season though, and he’s since given his verdict on the impressive England international.
Speaking to Spanish outlet Cadena Ser (via Sport Witness), Karanka said of Bellingham:
“Fair enough. When I signed there were 3-4 games left, it was the pandemic year. The first Birmingham game I saw, I called the director and asked him about that kid and he said… ‘no, no. Forget that kid. Forget about that kid, he’s not going to be there’. The truth is that’s when you realise what Bellingham is all about.
“The next game I saw him again and I told the general manager that he was going to get injured and we weren’t going to enjoy him and we weren’t going to get anything. The general manager told me that he was 17 years old, but the team needed three points and he said that until he saved the team he was going to give everything. When he was 17, in his city team, he already had that thought of wanting to give everything. That’s why he is where he is at 20.”
Bellingham setting the bar for Birmingham City’s youngster…
Since Bellingham’s emergence, Blues have had some exciting names come through the academy and into the first-team.
Jordan James came in alongside Bellingham and he too is now impressing on the international stage, whilst Jobe Bellingham has progressed and made Blues a bit of money, with the likes of Alfie Chang, George Hall, and Romelle Donovan among those in and around Wayne Rooney‘s first-team this season.
So for Birmingham City, they know that have an academy that can produce world class players, and so it’s now about giving those players the trust and exposure needed to follow in the footsteps of names like Bellingham.
He’s obviously a once in a lifetime talent, but that attitude of wanting to give everything that Karanka points out is something that the academy coaches can embed at a very young age.
Bellingham has shown that attitude and desire can push you a long way and if Blues’ youngsters and first-team players as well can match that mantra, then they too could achieve big things.