Jude Bellingham is a name that requires no introduction in the modern game of football, but he is not the top scorer in his family – meet dad Mark, who boasts over 700 goals in his own career!
The Bellingham’s stock has done nothing but soar since Jude made his debut for Birmingham City at 16 years old. From the get go, he was on the radar of big clubs due to his obvious potential.
Thanks to his mother Denise, and father Mark who manage both their son’s careers, it would be Borussia Dortmund where a 17-year-old Jude would hone his talents, amongst the likes of Erling Haaland and Jadon Sancho.
His time at Signal Iduna Park once again peaked the interest of many of the world’s largest clubs, with another career move in the works for the young midfielder just a couple of years after arriving in Germany.
Thanks to the keen management of his parents, Jude’s future was set to lay in La Liga, with one of the world’s most famous and formidable clubs, Real Madrid.
Since moving to Real Madrid in the summer, Jude, age 21, has wasted no time in impressing himself upon La Liga. He scored 19 goals in the Spanish top-flight in his first season!
And for those who need reminding, Jude Bellingham is a box-to-box midfielder, not a striker.
He even broke a Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid record in his first 15 matches with the club!
The 21-year-old recently won the Kopa Award for the world’s best young player, a decision that is unlikely to have any contest following his recent performances.
His brother Jobe is also enjoying a successful career under the management of the Bellinghams.
Jobe also began his senior career with Birmingham City in the 2021/2022 season, and was named on the bench for the first time just days before his 16th birthday.
Jobe made 24 appearances in his 2 seasons with Birmingham, before heading off to Sunderland last year where he has featured 45 times to date and scored 7 goals.
But it isn’t Jude, nor Jobe that hold the record for most goals scored in the Bellingham household.
The Bellingham brothers most assuredly learnt how to find the back of the net from their father Mark, who has been something of a superman throughout his own careers!
Mark Bellingham: Scholar, to goal-machine, to Police officer, to footy agent!
Jude & Jobe grew up watching their father pave his own way as one of the most prolific non-league goal scorers of all time.
Over a 25-year career, Mark netted over 700 goals whilst playing for more than 20 sides in the 7th tier of the English football system.
This was all whilst studying at the University of Wolverhampton and eventually becoming a police officer in the West Midlands Police.
Mark Bellingham even set a still-unbeaten record during his 2005/2006 season with Stourbridge – an astonishing 61 goals scored. Another spell, this time with Leamington, saw the senior Bellingham net 79 times in 87 matches that included 6 hat-tricks!
Jason Cadden, Bellingham’s manager during his time with Leamington said of him:
“I don’t know how he did it,”
“In evening games, the full-time whistle would blow and you’d see Mark sprint off. He’d jump in the shower, get in his car and start his police shift at 10pm.”
“He made goalscoring look simple. I’m sure he’d have done the same in the Conference, League Two, maybe higher.”
Mark Bellingham carried on scoring goals and fighting crime simultaneously, and eventually reached an astonishing milestone whilst playing for Paget Rangers in the Midland League Division 2 – a whopping 700 goals scored across his non-league career.
A free-kick for the side ironically earned Bellingham this milestone, despite being known as more of a penalty box predator.
Mark eventually hung his own boots up in 2019 whilst playing for Southam United, and focused on the next stage of his football career – his children.
As recruiters from across Europe began making moves towards Jude, Mark took the reins and managed his son’s career scrupulously. The way he has handled his sons’ careers have earned the Bellinghams the title of one of the most respected names in football.
Both Jude’s parents have always had a clear path for their sons’ progression in their respective careers, and their guidance has undoubtedly aided Jude & Jobe throughout their time in the game.
One massively important decision that was made by Mark and Denise on behalf of Jude was the decision to keep him away from the English top flight whilst his game developed.
The parents had long held the belief that the soap opera-like media circus that encircles the Premier League and its stars was not a good place for their son’s mental wellbeing whilst developing his game.
This proved to be the decisive factor when Jude signed with Borussia Dortmund, along with the incredible level of facilities and support the club offered for its young and developing players.
It was also the reason that, when the opportunity came knocking, Jude’ made his’s next move was to Real Madrid.
In fact, it may be unlikely that English fans will get to see Jude Bellingham in action in the Premier League any time soon. He commented recently that Real Madrid was the club “I want to be at for the next 10 to 15 years” and insisted that he is loving his time there.
Jude can also thank his father’s endless tenacity and belief in his son for his position within the England team – it was Mark Bellingham himself who approached Gareth Southgate rather than waiting for the manager to reach out to him!
This outlandish move could hardly be believed, but got the ball rolling for his son to progress his career at international level.
And it seems to be that very attitude that has earned Mark Bellingham, and his sons, everything that they have achieved in their respective careers.
To be a record-setting goal machine, whist studying at University and working on one of the most difficult Police forces in the country all at the same time takes some metal, and Mark Bellingham has proved that both he and his entire family have just that.
With Euro 2024 right around the corner, the opportunity for Jude to put even more respect on the Bellingham name is available, and no doubt his father will be behind him the entire way.
It may take a while for Jude to match his father’s 700+ goal tally, but he has certainly inherited the tenacity of his striker turned scholar, turned policeman, turned football agent dad!
