Jude Bellingham’s Parents Reportedly ‘Split’ After More Than Two Decades Together
- Jude Bellingham’s parents, Denise and Mark Bellingham, have reportedly gone their separate ways after more than 20 years together
- The couple, who sacrificed their own careers to support Jude and his brother Jobe’s football dreams, played a huge role in their rise to stardom
- Mark, a former police sergeant, acts as an agent to his sons, while Denise has been by Jude’s side throughout his journey
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The parents of Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham have reportedly gone their separate ways.
Mark, 49, and Denise, 57, who raised Jude and his younger brother Jobe in Stourbridge near Birmingham, have long been praised for their devotion to their sons’ football careers.
Source: Getty Images
The England midfielder, 22, has often credited his parents for sacrificing their own careers to support him and Jobe.
But reports now claim the couple have split, with the Daily Mail publishing photos of Mark appearing close to another woman shared on social media.
Speculation about the couple’s relationship began earlier this month when German outlet Bild reported that Mark and Denise sat apart during their son Jobe’s Borussia Dortmund match against Athletic Bilbao.
According to the report, the two barely spoke, with Mark only conversing with a relative seated between them.
Goal also described “a tense atmosphere” surrounding the family, suggesting it may be impacting Jobe’s performances, noting that the couple began spending more time apart around five years ago, when Denise moved to Germany to support Jude’s career at Dortmund.
Mark, who also serves as an agent for his sons, remained in the UK to support Jobe while he was still playing for Birmingham City.
Following the brothers’ transfers to Spain and Germany, respectively, their parents divided their time between the three countries to stay close to both of them.
New photos have surfaced showing Mark Bellingham, a former police sergeant, appearing close to West Mercia police officer, Shelley Punshon.
According to the Daily Mail, Punshon, who lives in Stourbridge, had shared pictures of herself and Bellingham on her public Facebook page in August before later deleting them.
In the image, sighted by YEN.com.gh on X, the pair are seen smiling on a woodland path, with Mark’s arm around her.
It remains unclear how or when Bellingham and Punshon, a divorced mother of two, first met, or when Mark and his wife Denise officially ended their relationship after more than 20 years together.
What is certain, however, is the pivotal role both parents have played in shaping the careers and character of their footballing sons.
Jude, whose career is now uncertain at Madrid, has repeatedly credited his mother for being the cornerstone of his success, praising her unwavering support throughout his career.
He has said via The Sun:
“Without my mum, sometimes I’d get too low with the lows or too high with the highs and I stay pretty humble because I’ve got her around."
Jude also attributes his love of the game to his father. He told the FA website in 2021:
“We talk about footballing heroes, and my dad was like my first.”
“When you go and watch him play every week in non-League, you know it’s not the Premier League or anything, but seeing the way that he played and the atmosphere, it made me fall in love with football so he was probably my first hero.”
Source: Getty Images
Bellingham's mom 'monitors' son's girlfriend
In an earlier report, YEN.com.gh highlighted a viral moment at the Bernabeu in February, where Jude Bellingham's mother, Denise, was seen closely watching Ashlyn Castro.
While the photo sparked rumours of unease between the two, the true story painted a far more harmonious picture.
Source: YEN.com.gh
