JERMAIN DEFOE Thinking On His Feet - Mayfair Times

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“Footballers have this
reputation of being bad boys,
with too much money and
always going out. I think it’s
a little bit harsh to be honest.
You can’t judge everyone
that way if you don’t know
them. Everyone’s different at
the end of the day.”
to win games on his own. Every time he got the ball he used
to run with it and beat everyone. He had so much energy. It
was unbelievable. To do it at that level as well – it’s difficult.”
Nowadays, Jermain says his perfect strike partner would
be Thierry Henry. “I like Thierry because, although he’s
scored so many goals, he’s not selfish. If you play with
Thierry he’ll set you up as well. I like a lot of strikers like Van
Nisselroy but I think they are too much like me. When they
get in the box all they see is the goal.”
So far, the highlight of Jermain’s career has been his first
start for England in a World Cup qualifier game against
Poland back in 2004.
“I wasn’t expecting to start,” he says. “I didn’t find out
that I was actually playing until the day of the game. I quickly
had to phone my mum and tell her to get a flight over to
watch. But she missed it. I scored after 37 minutes and she
missed my goal. That was probably the highlight of my
career because it was a massive game and my first start so it
was special.”
But he says there have been many special moments
along the way. He scored on his debut for West Ham when
he was just 17, scored in his debut for the England under-
21s squad and then again when he made his debut for
Spurs.
He’s only played for London clubs other than a short spell
on loan to Bournemouth. Would he ever consider a move
away from the capital? “I haven’t really thought about it,” he
says. “To be honest, when you’re happy at a club you don’t
really think about moving – but then you never know with
football.
“Anyway, my mum won’t let me go anywhere. I’d miss
London and my mum’s Sunday dinners – they’re
compulsory.”
Jermain is every inch the family man. He recently got
engaged (on Valentine’s Day) to his girlfriend Charlotte at
Brocket Hall in Hertfordshire. He even got down on one knee
to propose before presenting her with a huge diamond
engagement ring. “I was so nervous,” he says. The couple
hope to get married in 2009, although if Charlotte had her
way it would probably be sooner. “She’s picking wedding
dresses already,” laughs Jermain.
Charlotte’s love of shopping was what prompted the
couple to buy a flat in Green Street earlier this year, so they
could be close to Bond Street and Oxford Street.
“Green Street is nice, quiet and classy – and the
apartment is amazing,” says Jermain. Designed by Superna
Sethi of Green Street-based Manhattan Properties, it is fitted
out with all the mod cons you’d expect: plasma screens
throughout, motorised speakers, under-floor heating, Lutron
lighting and a Crestron portable screen, which controls TV,
audio, lighting and blinds.
And luckily for Charlotte, who loves to cook, the Italian
kitchen is huge, complete with six ovens, two huge wine
coolers and a massive American fridge.
But they also enjoy eating out. “I love my food,” says
Jermain, whose favourite restaurant is the Mirabelle in Curzon
Street.
His other passion is music and, had he not been a
footballer, he says he would probably have been a dancer.
Street dancing was his thing and he even entered
competitions. “Man, you should have seen me when I was
little,” he says. “I even got a few medals.”
He still occasionally struts his stuff in clubs around
Mayfair. “A few weeks ago, it was one of the boys’ birthdays
and we went to Chinawhite,” he says. “It’s a good
atmosphere in there – nice people and good music.”
Jermain, who is often snapped at parties, premieres and
award ceremonies with Charlotte, admits he enjoys the glitz
and glamour that goes with being a football star.
“When you’re young you don’t realise,” he says. “You play
football and that’s it. But now – yeah, it’s good. I can’t
complain to be honest – and I wouldn’t change it for the
world.”
So how does he see his England chances? “Good,” he
says. “I feel I’ve worked hard for the team, got a few goals
and I don’t feel I’ve let anyone down. I’ll just stay in the
frame, get a few starts and, hopefully, get a few more goals.”
JERMAIN DEFOE SCORING FOR
ENGLAND AGAINST ANDORRA
IN THE EURO 2008 QUALIFIERS
MATT ROBERTS / REX FEATURES