Kiwi tattoo baffles England fans
England football star Ben Chilwell has shown his pride in his Kiwi roots – by getting a map of New Zealand tattooed on his arm.
The 24-year-old showed off the new tattoo while being interviewed on the BBC ahead of England’s Euro 2020 opener against Croatia.
Chilwell’s father, Wayne, is a New Zealander who moved to England in 1993, three years before his son’s birth.
The Chelsea left-back was born in the town of Milton Keynes, about 80 kilometres north-west of London.
Chilwell, who played a vital role in the London club’s Champions League triumph against Manchester City last month, has spoken in the past about how his father’s ‘‘Kiwi mentality’’ helped drive him to become a professional footballer – even though he wanted him to play rugby.
‘‘It’s in his blood being a New Zealander. I played it [rugby] for a bit but didn’t enjoy my body getting battered,’’ Chilwell told the Daily Star newspaper last year.
Chilwell was also a talented cricketer but took up football instead and has emerged as key player for club and country in recent years. He completed a £45 million (NZ$88.6 million) move to Chelsea from Leicester City last year on a lucrative five-year contract.
Chilwell is expected to start against Croatia at Wembley as Gareth Southgate’s youthful side begin their Euros campaign.
While a proud Englishman, Chilwell clearly still holds a candle for the country of his father’s birth.
His tattoo of Aotearoa drew a mixture of confusion and mockery on social media, with some England fans questioning whether it was real or had been ‘‘scribbled on’’ his forearm with a biro.
Chilwell – who was eligible to play for the All Whites before opting to represent England – is one of 12 players in Southgate’s squad who could have declared for another country.