Jude Bellingham discusses Birmingham’s decision to retire his shirt number for the first time

Jude Bellingham provided some intriguing insight into Birmingham City’s decision to retire the number 22 shirt after his departs in 2020.

The Stourbridge-born midfielder, who turned 16 in August 2019, made his senior debut for boyhood team Birmingham, appeared in just 44 games for the Blues.

Thus, many mocked the decision when they declared that they would retire Bellingham’s number 22 shirt after Bellingham moved to Borussia Dortmund for £22.75 million.

Bellingham’s early career in Spain at La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid showcased his extraordinary potential, and he has since gone on to become one of the best midfielders in the world.

However, what was his true opinion of Birmingham’s choice to retire the number 22? In a recent interview with the French magazine L’Equipe, the England international made it plain how he felt.

Bellingham stated: “They told me ‘no one will take it until you get back to Birmingham'” following his victory on Monday night in the Kopa Trophy. I looked astonished and said, “Really?” While I had a wonderful year (2019/2020), it wasn’t particularly noteworthy.

“I had a look around. “But hold on, can we really do that?” However, I comprehend the stance and the choice. “My move helped the club out of a sticky situation.”

It’s noteworthy to note that Bellingham acknowledged he didn’t always enjoy football as a child.

“At the beginning I didn’t like football at all,” he stated. In all honesty, it’s absurd to claim that I would go insane today if this were taken away from me.

“When I was younger, I would go to training sessions and collect flowers and grass to make necklaces out of daisies, which I would then gift to my mother, who would be observing me from outside the field.

It actually was that way, and the nicest thing about the entire story is that it’s probably the reason I eventually started playing soccer.

“My dad would take me to practice and tell me if you want to play tag, play catch or go pick flowers.”

He continued, “As long as I behaved well and helped others, my parents never pressured me to do anything in that way. They continue to remind me of the playground, which was, I suppose, my entire world.”

Bellingham also revealed how much he admired Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard, as well as former Birmingham teammates Lee Bowyer and Craig Gardner.

“The Birmingham team, who defeated Arsenal 2-1 at Wembley in 2011 to win the League Cup, had players I admired.” Lee Bowyer, Craig Gardner, and Seb Larsson were my heroes,” he continued.

“Dad was the most significant person as I became more involved. Afterwards, just because they were English players, Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard served as my first role models.

“And then you start watching football as an adult. My dad had purchased a phony Zidane shirt from the beach. He carried it with him everywhere, even home. ‘By the way, who is that guy?’ I asked him once. “Check it out on YouTube,” he continued.

“I probably haven’t stopped since then. I wanted to be a player like Zidane. I had the good fortune to run across him in the 2022 Champions League final, which ended with Real Madrid defeating Liverpool 1-0. My eyes were big, like a child’s. Considering all that he has done, he is incredibly modest.”