Style Obsession, Looking Up To Drogba & Bond with Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program where prominent figures from athletics and entertainment participate with presenter Kelly Somers for frank and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

The program examines mindset and drive, discussing defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. This series uncovers the person behind the athlete.

The Chelsea defender started practicing with Chelsea at six years old and - having progressed through the academy and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his debut in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights to date include making his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries impacting him over the past four seasons.

James sat down with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: First question: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

Reece James: The name is Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will know that area. My beverage is a flat white.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

James: No, it started with, such as, 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 my entire focus in education. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this difficult to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and development?

Reece: No, simply due to my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was likely, unsure, attending matches of my sibling compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.

The host: It was big in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He is a soccer trainer too, isn't he? Tell me a bit about that.

Reece: Well there was three children during childhood. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

Kelly: Do you remember a lot of those sessions? Because I learned that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

James: Yeah, I remember - the training started young. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [the club and national team forward his sister].

Kelly: Talk to me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. That was the local team in Kew. I think 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, were you? Explain about your role evolution and its development...

James: I began as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left wing, right wing, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at defensive role, and I hated it at the time.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Because I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as much but eventually it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you began as an attacker - who served as your role model?

Reece: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he represented the athlete I admired.

Kelly: Identify a turning point in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the professional you have become?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and first-team football is most challenging and this represents likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find challenging.

The presenter: You're talking about the club, of course. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? The location was miles away from everything you knew in London - what made it successful so well?

Reece: The primary factor is that I featured week in week out, which helps. I gained a lot of experiences - I relocated from my companions and family and was forced to mature quickly. Playing on a regular schedule helped a lot.

The interviewer: Who has had the biggest impact on your career?

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He is nearly old enough to be my father and has played at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to help me from the minute he arrived and still does, presently he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: How specifically would he help you?

Reece: These were little messages off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw alternatively and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly nice to meet him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

The defender: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm happy that his club performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It is always good to see him.

Kelly: Were you able to return and replay one match in your professional history, what would you choose?

Reece: Assuming the result is going to be the same - it would be the Champions League [final].

Kelly: Besides victory, what made it exceptional about the occasion