Brooke Norton-Cuffy talks secret to England success

‘Duro lavoro paga’. One of Brooke Norton-Cuffy’s go-to Italian phrases that he’s added to his vocabulary since relocating to Genoa two years ago.

“That means hard work pays,” the defender, who plays his club football in Serie A, explained.

The England men’s under-21s international is a two-time European champion with the Young Lions.

Back in 2022, fresh off the back of a loan spell with League One side Lincoln City where he was handed his professional debut, Norton-Cuffy won the UEFA U19 EURO Championship in a squad that included the likes Jarell Quansah who went on to represent the senior team.

“The U19s was where it kick-started,” said Norton-Cuffy. “I’d always been involved in all of the England age groups but the U19s, we went there and we won pretty much every single game. We ended up winning the tournament 2-1 in the final. It was a great moment – surreal, really.

“To do it again with the U21s and some of the same faces who I won the U19s with was just such a great experience.”

Just three years later, Norton-Cuffy was named in Lee Carsley’s MU21s squad for the 2025 UEFA European Under-21 Championship. The defender played his part as England retained their crown out in Slovakia.

“It just sums up your end of season,” he explained. “You work so hard during the season and you go away with the national team and then to win the EUROs and to win it twice, it’s massive.

“It’s the cherry on top of the end of the season after all your hard work and you get a reward.”

But what has been the secret to success for the 22 year old?

“The talent helps,” he said. “It’s difficult because there’s a lot of talent but it also makes it easier. When you understand that, you can shine even more.

“I think the way the coaches are with you on camp and how they just give you the license and the freedom to go out and express yourself and enjoy.

“The togetherness – both groups were really together. In the U21s, we played a game called Wolf pretty much every single night! Those little things add a one or two per cent on the pitch for everyone to go and perform.”

On the back of England’s U19 EURO triumph, Norton-Cuffy earned himself a Championship move, linking up with Rotherham United.

Temporary loans to Coventry City and Millwall followed before returning to parent club Arsenal, tried and tested in the second tier of English football.

“After winning the U21s, I just said to myself, ‘you’ve won the U21 EUROs but what’s next?’” he said. “I just knew I had to go back to my club and try and kick on and try and push my career as much as possible.

“It was probably the most important part of my career, all of the different loans and what I learnt from each and every one of them. You might be fighting against relegation; you might be playing for promotion – there’s something on the line.

“My first loan was probably the biggest shock. It was the most difficult because I went to League One and I’d just turned 18, living in Lincoln, away from everyone and I was there by myself just playing football. It was just me and football – no distractions.”

As a child growing up watching Manchester United, Norton-Cuffy and his brothers were raised on Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez which, as he explained, was where it all began.

From there, the youngster – who played for the likes of Hanwell Town – spent time in Chelsea’s academy before making the switch to Arsenal’s Hale End.

“I remember when I signed for Chelsea and you get your little box with all your kit,” he recalled. “I probably didn’t take the kit off! I always used to be out on my estate with the Chelsea kit.

“Off-season, I still try and go back to my estate for a little kickabout. That’s when you’re most free. That’s when you play football for the pure love and joy of the game. It just puts a smile on your face.”

And it wasn’t always football for Norton-Cuffy who dabbled in other sports.

“I used to also play basketball,” he admitted. “My brother ended up playing basketball and I ended up playing football. I signed for Chelsea and I realised it was a bit too much to try and balance both, so I chose football. I’m good, to be fair!”

But in the summer of 2024, he opted for a change of scenery, ending his decade-long association with Arsenal to sign for Genoa.

A place he describes as ‘a small city by the sea’, the full-back has settled into a slower pace of life on the Italian coast.

“When I got there, you have to adapt to a new culture; a new way of training; a new lifestyle; a new language, as well,” explained Norton-Cuffy.

“I have Italian lessons, once or twice a week. When I first went there, my coach didn’t speak any English at all, so players would try and translate for me on the pitch and help me out. Now, I pretty much understand everything. I can get by and have a good conversation, especially if it’s about football.

“Lifestyle wise, I’d say it’s a lot more relaxed from London. Everything’s so busy there but I’ll be here and there’ll be an older lady speaking to the cashier for ten or 15 minutes about her day. Everyone’s so relaxed and laid back.”

England MU21s are back in action later this year when they resume their UEFA U21 EURO 2027 qualifying campaign, having made a strong start to the season in a bid to defend their title, sitting top of Group D.