Style Obsession, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes a new series where leading personalities from sports and show business join host the interviewer for candid and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, discussing pivotal experiences, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the individual behind the player.

Reece James began training with the London club at six years old and - after developing through the youth system and into the first team - is now club captain.

James announced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, netting on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements so far include making his England debut against Wales in the year 2020, claiming the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over recent years.

James sat down with Kelly Somers to talk about his professional peaks, Thiago Silva's influence, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?

The athlete: I am Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure more people will know that location. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

Kelly: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

James: Not exactly, I began with, such as, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

The presenter: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?

The defender: I mean, from childhood, it's kind of all I knew in education. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.

Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a big part of your early years and development?

James: Not particularly, just because my recollection is quite poor. My first remembrance was probably, unsure, going to watch my brother play. He is two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was big in your household, correct, because your father was so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, right? Share with me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well there was three children during childhood. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he naturally was a trainer as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

Kelly: Do you remember a lot of those training periods? Because I learned that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted drills with you in the yard.

James: Yeah, I recall - the drills began early. Fortunately, they paid off for myself and my sister [Chelsea and England forward Lauren James].

The interviewer: Talk to me about your first ever team that you played for as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. It was the local team in Kew. I think I played for about twelve months. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

The host: And you weren't a defender at initially, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and its development...

Reece: I began as a striker, and then subsequently moved to the wing, left side, right wing, and later to midfield, and then eventually at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.

Kelly: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. You didn't touch the football as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I've been a right-back since.

Kelly: You said you started as a forward - who was your idol?

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan during youth and he was the player I looked up to.

The host: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your career - a moment that has shaped you and the professional you have evolved into?

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

Kelly: You're talking about Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? It was miles away from all you knew in the capital - what made it successful so well?

Reece: The primary factor is that I played week in week out, which helps. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and relatives and was forced to mature fast. Playing on a regular schedule assisted a lot.

The interviewer: Who has had the greatest influence on your career?

Reece: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's nearly sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has played at elite standard for so long. He always tried to assist me from the moment he joined and still does, presently he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

The host: In what way would he help you?

Reece: It was small pieces of advice away from games. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I perceived alternatively and attempt and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It was undoubtedly pleasant to meet him this summer [during the tournament]?

Reece: It was great to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his team did well in the competition [they lost in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

The interviewer: If you could go back and experience again a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?

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

Kelly: Other than winning, what was so special about that night