England's breakthrough World Cup star could have played for Ireland – but he made his debut against the Boys In Green instead.
Jude Bellingham, 19, is eligible for Ireland through a paternal grandmother, according to his dad Mark.
The midfield dynamo’s father, a policeman who was also a prolific non-league striker, has even posted a photo of his son in an Ireland jersey.
READ MORE: Met Eireann forecast temperatures to plummet as Arctic snap sets in - and snow on the way
Mark tweeted as the pandemic raged in September 2020: “This half Irish kid [Mark] is going to go online and watch his mixed race England U21 international son [Jude] make his competitive debut in the German Cup.”
Proud dad Mark watched on You Tube as his then 17-year-old son Jude scored in his first match for Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund.
Jude, who had joined Dortmund from Birmingham City in July 2020 for an initial Stg£25m (€29m), scored his side’s second goal in a 5-0 rout of third-division Duisburg in the German Cup first round.
After watching Bellingham at the World Cup, former Ireland captain Roy Keane (51), who is working as a pundit at the tournament, said: “He’s going to be a superstar, that kid.”
At least 10 of the current England squad, including captain Harry Kane (29), could have represented Ireland.
Roy recently bemoaned some England players choosing the Three Lions after wearing the green jersey.
After his fellow pundit Ian Wright (59), the ex-England striker, complained that teenage sensation Jamal Musiala (19) played for England at underage level before switching to Germany, Keano said: “It’s nice England get a taste of their own medicine.
“They have [taken] players – [Declan] Rice, [Jack] Grealish. Don’t get me started.”
Keane said in 2018 about Rice (23), who earned three friendly caps for Ireland before switching to England: “He’s Irish, it’s very straightforward.”
Previously, Keano said: “I’ve never been against players who weren’t born in Ireland playing for the country.
“If they want to come on board and they qualify, then great, as long as they’ve a feel for it.”
Bellingham could have played for Ireland but, instead, he made his England debut against them in November 2020 when he was aged only 17.
England won the friendly 3-0 at Wembley Stadium and Bellingham became the third youngest to play for England.
Only younger were Theo Walcott (33), who was 17 when he went to the 2006 World Cup, and Wayne Rooney (37) – another player who could have played for Ireland due to his Irish heritage.
Bellingham has inspired England to reach a World Cup quarter-final tie against France this Saturday.
He is the eldest child of Denise and Mark Bellingham and was born in 2003 in Stourbridge, Dudley, in the West Midlands.
West Midlands Police sergeant Mark had a 20-year career as a prolific non-league striker, scoring over 700 goals with clubs including Stourbridge, Halesowen, Bromsgrove, Leamington and Sutton Coldfield.
After he retired in 2017, son Jude said: “I used to watch him play all the time. It’s where I started to get that love for football.
“I think you can see in the way I play that I’ve watched the game from a young age.
“That non-league style of toughness and being gritty when you need to be is reflected in my game, and I do think that comes from watching my dad.”
Like Roy Keane, Jude could have played for all-time Premier League champions Manchester United, who lined up a STG£20m (€23m) bid for him in 2020 when he was just 17.
After signing for Dortmund, Jude revealed in November 2020 that he turned down United because he wanted to get first team football like his then Dortmund teammate Jadon Sancho (22) – who subsequently left to join United.
Jude said at the time: “We’re all trying to play but, specifically, we’re trying to make that next step into Europe’s elite.
“I think Jadon has done that perfectly and he was a massive factor in looking at his journey. Hopefully, I can mirror it.”
READ NEXT:
Dad regrets 'moment of madness' that cost him job, freedom and unborn child
Concern for missing rugby player weeks after being sent home from Ireland tour
Girl dies after taking 'unknown tablet' in nightclub as teen arrested
Meghan and Harry's documentary 'utterly explosive and worse than royals can imagine'
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
