03 November 2023 , 22:29
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Jude Bellingham has admitted he was taken aback when told that Birmingham had retired his shirt number.
The midfielder spent one season in the senior side at St Andrew's, before leaving for Borussia Dortmund for £25million. He made 44 appearances for the Blues during the 2019/2020 season, with his move to Dortmund basically saving his boyhood club.
After his departure, the Championship side made the surprise decision to retire Bellingham's number 22 shirt. It was a move that proved to be controversial given he only spent one season in their first-team, but the superstar has now backed that decision.
“They told me 'no one will take it until you get back to Birmingham'. I was like 'Really?' I had a good year, but it was nothing extraordinary. I looked around me. 'But wait, are we allowed to do that?'" Bellingham told L'Equipe.
"But I understand the position and the decision. My transfer saved the club, which was in a difficult situation. I admired the Birmingham players, the team that won the League Cup at Wembley. My heroes were Seb Larsson, Craig Gardner and Lee Bowyer.
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“As I got more into it, dad was the most important. Later, my first models were Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, simply because they played in England. And then when you grow up, you start watching football."
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Birmingham retired Jude Bellingham's number when he left in 2020, something the midfielder has now backedThe Blues have stuck by the move they announced three years ago, despite going under a change of ownership. When the decision was made, the club insisted he would continue to inspire young players in the Second City.
"In such a remarkably short space of time Jude has become an iconic figure at Blues, showing what can be achieved through talent, hard work and dedication. His caring, humble and engaging off-the-field demeanour has also made him such an impressive role model," a statement read.
"The 22 shirt has become synonymous with Jude, his rise to the first team aged just 16 years and 38 days and these qualities. And as such the club have decided it would be fitting to retire this number, to remember one of our own and to inspire others."
Bellingham now wears the No.5 shirt at Madrid, previously owned by Zinedine Zidane. After winning the Kopa Trophy, he paid tribute to Birmingham and admitted it was an honour to be named the world's best young player.
"I just wanted to thank everyone who helped me to get to this point: Birmingham City, Dortmund and now Madrid, the national team and most importantly my family: my mum and dad here tonight, my brother back home. Thank you for all the support, it means a lot," he said.
"To win this trophy means a lot but for me the important thing is team trophies and the important thing for me is to kick on and help Real Madrid and England win trophies for many years."