The Academy Standoff: When Bellingham Almost Walked
Jude Bellingham, the global football sensation now starring for Real Madrid and England, possessed a formidable winning mentality from his earliest days, a trait that once led him to threaten quitting his boyhood club, Birmingham City.
According to a report from the Telegraph, the midfield maestro stopped speaking to academy coach Mike Dodds and even threatened to leave the club entirely after facing what he perceived as unjust treatment during his youth development.
Bellingham's extraordinary talent was so apparent from the under-8 age group onwards that coaches would deliberately stack the odds against him in training sessions, creating lopsided teams specifically designed to test and push his abilities to their limit.
A Relentless Drive for Perfection
Mike Dodds, who remains in contact with Bellingham today, expressed awe at the young player's determination, stating it was something he'd never encountered before and doubted he would ever witness again.
"Even at that young age his desire to be the very, very best was something I've never, ever come across and I'm sure I'll never, ever come across it again in my life," Dodds revealed. "His desire to be the very best — it's in every walk of his life."
This uncompromising attitude has followed Bellingham throughout his rapid ascent, which saw him break into Birmingham's first team before having his iconic number 22 shirt retired when he departed for Borussia Dortmund at just 17 years old.
Not a 'Yes Man': The Quality Top Coaches Admire
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, who worked with Bellingham as part of Gareth Southgate's England coaching staff during the 2024 European Championships, confirmed that the midfielder is far from a passive participant.
Hasselbaink admires that Bellingham is not a 'yes man', willingly challenging his coaches when he believes it's necessary. The Dutchman was quick to note, however, that such an approach only works when a player can consistently deliver on their promises on the pitch.
"Oh, I loved him," Hasselbaink said. "He challenged you as a coach, but in the right way. He's not a yes man, which I like. But then obviously, if you're not a yes man, then you have to be able to back it up. And he does that."
This characteristic is set to become immediately apparent to current England manager Thomas Tuchel, with Bellingham returning to the squad after missing the previous two international gatherings.
Tuchel faces the enviable yet complex task of accommodating his wealth of attacking talent, with Bellingham and Phil Foden among those competing for similar roles in the team's structure.
The German coach has already hinted at the selection headaches ahead, noting the intense competition for the number 10 position and suggesting that not all talented players in that role will make the final cut for major tournaments.
