Jude Bellingham's former coach praise the player after his Kopa Trophy win

After winning the award, Bellingham thanked those that had helped him during his career so far

A former coach of footballer Jude Bellingham said the midfielder "has the world at his feet" after being named the best player aged under 21.

The 20-year-old won the Kopa Trophy, becoming the world's best at the Ballon d'Or in Paris on Monday.

Ex-Birmingham City Academy coach Mike Dodds said Bellingham's well-rounded nature and talent made him "a pillar for what we represent as a country".

It was incredible to see his success and he was very proud, he added.

After winning the award, Stourbridge-born Bellingham thanked those that had helped him during his career so far, including at Birmingham and Borussia Dortmund.

Mike Dodds coached Jude Bellingham when he was a youth player at Birmingham City

Mr Dodds, who has been credited by Bellingham with developing him as a player and person, said he was not surprised the footballer said that as he never doubted he would forget his roots.

"He's such a humble, well-rounded, well-grounded young man," he said.

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"He's a privilege to know and the best thing is for any kind of young, or any English fan, he's a real pillar for what we represent as a country - and he's still only 20 so he's only going to get better and get more mature.

"Literally the world is at his feet at the moment. It's amazing to see and is also quite scary, but long may we all enjoy Jude Bellingham."

Bellingham "eats up challenges", Mr Dodds said

The news of him winning the award was still sinking in, but Mr Dodds said he should not be surprised given his recent performances.

"I still see him as that young lad who turned up three or four nights a week at Birmingham City's academy," he said.

He added: "I worked with him for the best part of a decade and because you see him every single day, I don't think you truly appreciate how good he is and then... when he broke into Birmingham City's first team and I'm sat in the stand and I'm seeing a 16-year-old boy competing in the Championship with seasoned pros, I think that was the point [I thought] okay, this boy's a little bit different."

His success at new club Real Madrid by scoring an impressive 13 goals in 13 games was not likely to have been predicted even by the player himself, he said, but the club was the perfect fit for him.

"I don't speak to him every day, but whenever I do, he's just happy... a happy footballer and a happy person," he added.

The award recognises Bellingham's performances last season, during which he scored 14 times in 42 games for Dortmund.

As an England player, he also helped the team reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar.

He also helped England reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Qatar