Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham has been named Bundesliga Player of the Season despite losing the German league title to rivals Bayern Munich on the final day of the season.
“Every year or half year that I’ve played at the club, my responsibility in the team has increased,” he was quoted as saying on the Bundesliga site.
“I came to the club as a talented lad, but I have added elements to my game that have taken it to the next level.”
“I have to continue to be everywhere on the pitch and try my best to contribute going forwards and backwards and try and control games, try to dominate the midfield,” he said.
“I want my teammates to see that I’m always doing everything I can to make sure we win. If we lose a game, I’m the worst person.”
Congratulations @BellinghamJude on your @Bundesliga_EN player of the season award 🏅 pic.twitter.com/yb0lkyxhvJ
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) May 29, 2023
The midfielder, who signed for Dortmund at age 17 from English Championship club Birmingham City for 32 million euros, played a pivotal role in England’s midfield at the 2014 World Cup and has been heavily linked with a summer transfer to Real Madrid or Manchester City.
When he led his team out at Cologne in October, Bellingham became the league’s youngest captain since 1995, when data collection began.
His coach Edin Terzic called Bellingham “the oldest 19-year-old in the world”.
The 2022/23 Bundesliga Player of the Season, @BellinghamJude! 🖤💛#Bundesliga | #POTS pic.twitter.com/X0RdlnyCTz
— Bundesliga English (@Bundesliga_EN) May 29, 2023
According to Bundesliga statistics, Bellingham covered more distance (322 km) than any of his teammates and won a league-leading 482 ‘duels’ during the course of the season.
Bellingham was one of four Dortmund players named to the ‘fans, clubs, and experts’-selected team of the season.
Bundesliga Team of the Season:
Goalkeeper: Gregor Kobel (Borussia Dortmund; Defenders: Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen), Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich); Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund), Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich); Forwards: Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt), Niclas Fuellkrug (Werder Bremen).