Style Obsession, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton
- Published
The Football Interview represents a new series in which prominent figures from sports and entertainment participate with host Kelly Somers for candid and detailed discussions about football.
We'll explore mental approach and drive, covering defining moments, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the individual behind the player.
The Chelsea defender started practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now club captain.
James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his debut in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.
Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights to date include earning his England debut against Wales in 2020, claiming the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.
Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues impacting him over the past four seasons.
The athlete spoke with Kelly Somers to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner the racing driver.
The defender discusses Thiago Silva's impact on his career
The interviewer: Initial inquiry: identity, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?
The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure many will know that area. My coffee is a flat white.
Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?
James: No, it started with, such as, flavored coffees and stuff.
Kelly: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?
The defender: I mean, from childhood, it's kind of my entire focus in education. I wasn't exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored the sport.
Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to respond to because it was such a big part of your childhood and growing up?
James: No, just because my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, going to watch my sibling compete. He is my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.
The host: It was significant in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He's a soccer trainer too, right? Tell me a little about that.
The athlete: Well we were three children during childhood. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.
The presenter: Do you remember many of those training periods? Because I learned that starting from the age of four, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the back garden.
James: Yes, I recall - the drills began early. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sister [the club and national team forward his sister].
Kelly: Talk to me about your first ever team that you played for as a child, its name, and your memories?
The defender: I don't remember much, to be honest. That was the local team in the area. I think I played for about a year. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.
Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at initially, correct? Explain about your positional journey and how that changed...
Reece: I began as a striker, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left wing, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.
The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?
The athlete: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the football as much but one day it just clicked and I became a defender since.
Reece James won the Champions League in 2021 when his team defeated Man City 1-0 in the final in the Portuguese city
Kelly: You mentioned you began as an attacker - who was your role model?
Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan during youth and he was the player I admired.
The host: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has shaped you and the player you have evolved into?
Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is most challenging and this represents likely what many athletes making the jump find difficult.
The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, naturally. Why was Wigan the right club for you at that period? The location was miles away from everything you were familiar with in the capital - why did it work so effectively?
Reece: The primary factor is that I played consistently, which helps. I gained a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and family and had to mature fast. Participating on a consistent basis assisted a lot.
Kelly: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your professional journey?
The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he joined and continues to, even now he is not here [having left Chelsea in 2024].
The host: How specifically would he help you?
James: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I saw differently and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.
Kelly: It was undoubtedly pleasant to see him recently [during the tournament]?
Reece: It proved wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his team performed admirably in the tournament [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners Chelsea]. It is always good to encounter him.
The interviewer: If you could go back and replay a single game in your career, what would you choose?
Reece: Assuming the result is remains the identical - I'd select the Champions League [final].
The host: Other than victory, what made it exceptional about the occasion
