Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Bond with Hamilton
- Published
The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program where prominent figures from sports and entertainment participate with host Kelly Somers for candid and detailed discussions about football.
The program examines mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. The Football Interview uncovers the individual beyond the player.
Reece James started training with Chelsea at the age of six and - having progressed through the youth system and into the first team - is now club captain.
James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in 2019.
Now 25, James' career highlights so far include making his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.
Nevertheless, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.
The athlete spoke with the interviewer 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 the veteran's influence on his professional journey
Kelly Somers: First question: identity, your origins, and what's your coffee order?
The athlete: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I expect more people will recognize that location. My beverage is a flat white.
Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?
Reece: No, it started with, like, vanilla lattes and stuff.
Kelly: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?
Reece: I mean, from childhood, it's kind of all I knew in education. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I simply adored playing football.
The interviewer: Your first recollection of playing? Is this tough to respond to because it was such a big part of your childhood and growing up?
James: Not particularly, simply due to my recollection is so bad. My first remembrance was probably, I don't know, going to watch my brother play. He is two years older than me, and he used to play as well.
Kelly: It was significant in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Share with me a bit about that.
The athlete: So there was three children during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we used to train extensively with him.
Kelly: Can you recall many of those training periods? Since I read that as young as the four years old, you were outside and he conducted drills with you in the back garden.
Reece: Yeah, I recall - the training started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [Chelsea and national team attacker Lauren James].
The interviewer: Talk to me about your initial club that you represented as a youngster, its name, and your memories?
The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I think I played for about a year. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.
The host: And you weren't a backline player at initially, were you? Explain about your positional journey and how that changed...
James: I began as a forward, and then subsequently transitioned to wide positions, left side, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then eventually at defensive role, and I disliked it at that period.
The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?
Reece: Because I always wanted to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as frequently but eventually it just clicked and I've been a defender since.
The defender claimed the Champions League in that year when his team defeated Manchester City by one goal in the final in Porto
The interviewer: You said you started as a forward - who served as your idol?
James: The player I admired was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a supporter growing up and he represented the athlete I admired.
Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - a moment 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 senior level is the hardest and that is probably what many athletes making the jump find challenging.
Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, naturally. What made did Wigan become the ideal team for you at the time? It was miles away from everything you were familiar with in London - why did it work so well?
Reece: The first thing is that I featured week in week out, which helps. I acquired a lot of experiences - I moved away from my friends and relatives and had to mature fast. Participating on a consistent basis assisted significantly.
The interviewer: Which individual exerted the greatest influence on your career?
Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has played at the highest level for many years. He consistently attempted to help me from the moment he arrived and still does, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].
Kelly: How specifically would he help you?
Reece: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally observe situations that I saw alternatively and try and paint a different picture.
Kelly: It must have been nice to meet him this summer [during the tournament]?
The defender: It proved great to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his team did well in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions his team]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.
Kelly: If you could go back and replay one match in your professional history, which would you pick?
Reece: Assuming the result is remains the identical - I'd select the European Cup decider.
The host: Besides victory, what was so special about the occasion
