Raheem Sterling Reveals Heartbreaking Story: From His Father’s Tragic Mur*er to Leaving Jamaica for England and his Journey into Football by HollywoodNuts
Raheem Sterling Opens Up About the Profound Impact of Losing His Father, Moving to Jamaica as a Child, and His Journey into Football
Raheem Sterling, the celebrated England football star, has recently shared the deeply personal story of how the tragic loss of his father during his toddler years significantly influenced the course of his life. Despite being raised by his mother, Nadine, and his grandmother, Sterling believes that the devastating murder of his father played a pivotal role in shaping his character and drive.
In a candid interview with The Players’ Tribune, Sterling expressed, “When I was two years old, my father was murdered. That shaped my entire life. Not long after that, my mom made the decision to leave me and my sister in Jamaica and go to England so she could pursue her degree and provide us with a better life.”
During his discussion, Sterling also acknowledged his late father through a controversial tattoo of a gun on his right leg. Reflecting on his childhood, he recounted living with his grandmother in Kingston, Jamaica, and experiencing feelings of jealousy as he observed other children with their mothers. Sterling admitted that at such a young age, he didn’t fully grasp the sacrifices his mother was making for their future, and he longed for her presence in his life.
Football became Sterling’s escape and sanctuary, and his exceptional talent eventually led him to sign a contract with Queens Park Rangers (QPR) at the age of 11, following his mother’s decision to return the family to London six years prior. However, prior to finding his passion for football, Sterling struggled with discipline and even had to change primary schools due to his challenging behavior.
Sterling candidly admitted that he must have put his mother through immense stress during those times. It was only when he met his mentor, youth worker Clive Ellington, that Sterling began to turn his life around. Ellington, who genuinely cared for the fatherless children in their neighborhood, played a transformative role in Sterling’s life.
Recalling the pivotal moment, Sterling shared, “After about a year, I moved back to the big school. But if I really think hard about it, the moment my life changed was when I met a guy named Clive Ellington. He used to mentor the kids in our neighborhood who didn’t have their fathers around. He genuinely cared about us.”
“One day, he sat me down and asked, ‘Raheem, what do you love to do?’ I said, ‘I love playing football.’ He said, ‘Well, I got a little Sunday League team. Why don’t you come out and play with us?’ And that was it. That moment changed my life.”
From that point forward, Sterling’s life took a new trajectory. His passion for football became his driving force, propelling him from Sunday League football to the highest echelons of the sport. Today, as a proud father himself, Sterling has come a long way, using his platform to inspire and motivate others, and proving that even in the face of adversity, resilience and determination can lead to incredible success.
