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LIKE A MODEL: Billy Gilmour - Chelsea's rough diamond is also Burberry's model?!

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Hello, everyone! Welcome to All Football column LIKE A MODEL! Today we will show you Chelsea teen sensation Billy Gilmour.

The classy midfielder, nicknamed the 'Scottish Iniesta', ran the show as Chelsea knocked out Liverpool 2-0 in the FA Cup to earn the Man-of-the-Match award.

Gilmour left school at 16 to pursue his football dream, starting off with Rangers before moving to Stamford Bridge to continue his football education.

He soon found himself modelling for British designer Burberry, but the 5ft 6in star didn't let that distract him.

Instead, he scrolled through YouTube videos of his heroes Cesc Fabregas, Luka Modric and the Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta desperate to learn about the art of passing and becoming the complete midfielder.

When he was 16, Gilmour bravely decided to take up an offer by the West London giants and travel some 411 miles down south to Cobham, Surrey.

He knew no one there, and it was a move dictated by a desire to take his ability to another level.

Normally when footballers make the crossover to the fashion world, they're established names. Think Beckham and Ronaldo.

However, Gilmour was given a year-long contract with Burberry before his 2019 debut for the Blues against Sheffield United earlier this season.

He said: "My agent just rang me up after training out of the blue one day and asked 'fancy being a model?'

"I was like 'what?'…he said 'it's only gonna be for a year, just a couple of shoots.' I then said, 'for who?' and he said 'for Burberry'…it was at that point where I said 'aye!'

The black and white shoot has Gilmour modelling the brand's famous trench coat, as well as a patterned scarf.

In another arty shot, he has a postage stamp rested on his tongue.

Needless to say, his teammates ribbed him for it.

He said: "I was getting a bit of stick in the training room off the pitch for that when the pictures came through, but it was definitely worth it – it was some buzz, something different as well."

Despite his dalliance in fashion, Gilmour was well aware where his future lay.

It was at the 2018 Toulon Tournament, where he made his debut for Scotland in the Under-21's, that he showed he was destined for big things.

A man-of-the-match performance in a 1-0 win over France, coupled with leading the Scots to a fourth-placed finish earned him the 'Revelation of the Tournament' award.

A star was born, and Chelsea knew they had a rough diamond in a youth squad already filled with talented boy wonders like Mason Mount, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Tammy Abraham, and Reece James.

Youngster Billy Gilmour wins Man of the Match award for Chelsea against Liverpool in the FA Cup


Do you agree with us? Post your comments and share your favourite photos of Billy Gilmour! Meanwhile, you can click our column for more "models" and tell us which one you want to see the next week!

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