​As England prepare to face Norway in the World Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, two men who played pivotal roles in Jude Bellingham’s early development have reflected on his extraordinary ascent from the West Midlands to the world stage. Pep Clotet, the former Birmingham City head coach who gave the Stourbridge-born youngster his senior debut at 16, and Gary Hackett, a family friend, both said Bellingham’s stellar form at the tournament did not come as a surprise to those who watched him closely in his youth.
Hackett described Bellingham as a “world-class player,” while Clotet argued that the attributes now celebrated on the international stage were already evident when Bellingham broke into Birmingham City’s first team in 2019. “I always thought he didn’t have a ceiling,” Clotet said. He emphasized that Bellingham combined natural talent with an extraordinary work ethic and a maturity beyond his years. “Early on, he showed that his focus was on par with everyone else,” Clotet noted, adding that he did need to develop physically. “As soon as he made his debut, he established his place in the team. From day one, his work rate was spot on, and gradually he became a key figure in the side.”
Clotet recalled that he never envisioned Bellingham’s ceiling as finite. “I never imagined the boy having a roof,” he reflected. He stressed that Bellingham’s blend of athleticism, intelligence, and drive was already evident when he stepped into Birmingham City’s first team in 2019, and added that the youngster’s leadership qualities and competitive hunger signal his potential to reach the game’s summit. “He is England’s kind of player—someone capable of leading and who relishes the chance to test himself in crucial matches.”
Hackett, who both coached and played alongside Jude’s father, Mark Bellingham, said his early memories of the player stretch back to days spent at local football pitches and games attended with his dad. “My earliest memories are of Jude going to football games with his dad and playing in the park from a very young age,” Hackett recalled. He praised the way the midfielder has maintained that grounded upbringing while rising to global prominence. “It’s absolutely brilliant seeing Jude where he is now,” Hackett said, noting the remarkable attitude he has exhibited and affirming that Bellingham is among the world’s elite. “Providing he stays injury-free, he’ll keep making records.”
With England aiming to reach the semi-finals, both Clotet and Hackett believe Bellingham will be central to the team’s ambitions of lifting the World Cup. Hackett expressed confidence that England could go as far as any nation, stating, “We’re capable of beating Norway, and we could also overcome Argentina; the final is something we could achieve.” The assessment underscored the consensus among those who watched Bellingham’s rise that his presence and leadership could be decisive for England’s hopes in Qatar.