Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton
- Published
The Football Interview represents an innovative program in which prominent figures from sports and show business join host Kelly Somers for candid and detailed discussions about the beautiful game.
We'll explore mental approach and motivation, discussing defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. This series reveals the individual behind the athlete.
Reece James started training with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now team leader.
The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his debut in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.
Now 25, his professional achievements to date include making his England debut against Wales in the year 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.
However, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries affecting him over the past four seasons.
James sat down with Kelly Somers to discuss his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.
'He's nearly old enough to be my dad' - Reece James reveals Thiago Silva's impact on his career
Kelly Somers: First question: name, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?
Reece James: The name is Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that location. My coffee is a flat white.
Kelly: Was it consistently a flat white?
Reece: No, it started with, like, vanilla lattes and similar drinks.
The presenter: We'll begin by talking football. 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 just loved playing football.
The interviewer: Your first recollection of playing? Is this difficult to answer because it represented a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?
James: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is quite poor. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, attending matches of my brother play. He's my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.
Kelly: It was big in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a bit about that.
Reece: Well we were three of us growing up. We were all football mad, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.
Kelly: Can you recall many of those training periods? Because I learned that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he was doing drills with you in the back garden.
James: Yeah, I remember - the training began early. Thankfully, they paid off for myself and my sister [the club and national team forward Lauren James].
The interviewer: Talk to me about your initial club that you represented as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?
The defender: My recollection is limited, to be honest. It was the local team in Kew. I believe I was there for about twelve months. From that point that I was scouted for the professional club.
The host: You didn't start as a defender at initially, correct? Talk to me about your positional journey and how that changed...
Reece: I started off as a striker, and then subsequently transitioned to wide positions, left side, right side, and later to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I hated it at that period.
The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?
Reece: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as much but one day it just clicked and I became a right-back 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 said you began as a forward - who served as your role model?
James: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter growing up and he represented the athlete I admired.
The host: Identify a turning point in your professional life - a moment that has shaped you and the player you have evolved into?
The defender: I would probably say the loan spell. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is most challenging and that is likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find difficult.
The presenter: You're referring to the club, naturally. What made was Wigan the right club for you at the time? It was distant from all you knew in the capital - what made it successful so well?
James: The primary factor is that I featured week in week out, which proves beneficial. I acquired valuable exposure - I moved away from my friends and family and had to mature fast. Participating on a regular schedule helped a lot.
The interviewer: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your career?
The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's nearly old enough 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, presently he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].
The host: How specifically would he help you?
James: These were little messages away from games. During matches, he would sometimes see things that I saw alternatively and try and offer alternative perspectives.
The presenter: It must have been pleasant to meet him this summer [during the tournament]?
The defender: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions Chelsea]. It's always good to encounter him.
Kelly: Were you able to return and experience again a single game in your professional history, which would you pick?
James: Assuming the result is remains the same - it would be the Champions League [final].
Kelly: Besides victory, what was so special about that night
