‘Always’ - Jude Bellingham opens up on Birmingham City fandom and blue nose obsession

England international midfielder Jude Bellingham has opened up about his boyhood obsession with former club Birmingham City - and it seems Blues are never far away from his thoughts. The 19-year-old has been one of the Three Lions’ star players at the FIFA World Cup this winter and many are starting to realise just why Birmingham retired his shirt number 22.

With four starts out of four so far in Qatar, Bellingham has put on some incredible displays and has been at the centre of plenty of England fans’ conversations. Gareth Southgate’s side beat Senegal 3-0 in the Round of 16 on Sunday evening and they will face world champions France in the World Cup Quarter Final on Saturday, December 10.

A lot of England’s success is down to just how good Bellingham has been in the centre of the park, as he has often dominated in all areas of midfield throughout the tournament. There’s no wonder why he has been linked tirelessly with a move to the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Real Madrid over recent weeks.

Bellingham hasn’t always been a global superstar, though, and he remains incredibly humble even despite his rapid rise - sticking to his roots whenever quizzed about them. When asked by talkSPORT about what being a ‘Bluenose’ means, he was quick to respond with confidence. “To be a Bluenose is to be a Birmingham City fan really.

“I’m a Bluenose, you’re a Bluenose, and if you’re from the right side of Birmingham you’re a Bluenose,” Bellingham explained. “I never forget when we went to [Birmingham City] games, I always loved going past the bit with the rock - there’s a rock on the way to the stadium and someone’s painted the nose blue.

“Before games, I’d always go to my mum or my dad, ‘you’ve got to go past the Bluenose’. Before the game against Stoke when I scored on my home debut, we drove past it. I would’ve driven past it a million times going to a game as a fan, but, and I don’t know why, before the Stoke game it was special. From that point I said we always have to go that way to go past the Bluenose,” Bellingham said.

Many a Birmingham fan will know exactly what Bellingham is referring to – the ‘Sleeping Iron Giant’ in Bordesley Green. It’s quite simply what the midfielder explains - a carved rock with its nose painted blue by Birmingham supporters - and many were refreshed at what Bellingham had to say.

One fan on Twitter wrote: “Believe us, Blues fans are eternally grateful [for] what this kid sacrificed for our club. So many youngsters have jumped from a club chasing money, [but] this kid did the opposite and put [the] club first. He will always be a blue.”

Another said: “I love how much he doesn’t hide how much he still loves Birmingham! A lot of players become pros and don’t mention who they really support! But you hear Jude mention it a lot.” Bellingham and his England teammates face France at 7pm on Saturday.