Jude Bellingham's dad was prolific non-league football star who once scored 48 goals in a season

Jude Bellingham is already one of the top stars in world football at the age of just 20 - but many may be unfamiliar about the career path followed by his father, Mark.

England midfielder Jude came through Birmingham's youth academy and made his senior debut at 16 years of age in 2019.

Initially deployed on the left of a four-player midfield by manager Pep Clotet as he developed, Bellingham was then shifted into central midfield shortly before his big-money move to Borussia Dortmund.

Although that is his preferred position, he has been used as a second striker by Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid following the departure of Karim Benzema.

In playing up front, Jude is following in the footsteps of father Mark, who was also a striker during his playing days.

The elder Bellingham was something of a football journeyman, appearing for over 20 clubs - but he scored goals almost everywhere he went.

At the age of 40, Bellingham netted his 700th career goal while playing for Midland League Division Two side Paget Rangers.

After bringing up the momentous figure, he told the Non-League Paper: "I've started to score a lot more tap-ins and the range is getting a lot shorter.

"The 700th was a free-kick which isn't regular for me at all. Anything outside the box for me is abnormal!

"I needed 38 goals last season but got to 36, and then was banned for the last game because of a red card - my first sending-off."

Image credit: Getty

Bellingham also worked as a police officer for West Midlands Police, and played for their football club for a brief spell between 1998 and 2000.

In 2009, he netted an astonishing 48 goals in a single season to help Leamington to promotion from the Southern Premier League, and former manager Jason Cadden told the Birmingham Post: "Evening games, the full-time whistle would blow and you'd see Mark sprint off the pitch.

"He'd jump in the shower, get in his car and start his police shift at 10pm. To juggle his job, his family life and yet still do what he did on the pitch - it's full credit to him as a person, really."

Image credit: Getty

Bellingham carried on playing until 2019 when, aged 43, he hung up his boots. Now, he keeps a watching brief on Jude's career as his agent.

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