Style Obsession, Looking Up To Didier Drogba & Bond with Lewis Hamilton

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The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program in which prominent figures from sports and show business join presenter the interviewer for frank and detailed dialogues about football.

We'll explore mindset and motivation, covering defining moments, career highlights and personal reflections. This series uncovers the person beyond the player.

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

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements so far include earning his international bow against Wales in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being named club captain in 2023.

However, things have not always gone smoothly, with multiple fitness issues affecting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to discuss his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: First question: identity, your origins, and what's your coffee order?

Reece James: The name is Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I'm sure many will recognize that location. My coffee is a flat white.

Kelly: Has it always been a flat white?

Reece: Not exactly, it started with, such as, flavored coffees and stuff.

Kelly: Let's start by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?

Reece: Essentially, from a little kid, it's kind of all I knew in school. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, 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 significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

James: Not particularly, just because my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was probably, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling play. He's my senior by two years 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's a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a little about that.

Reece: So we were three of us growing up. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we used to train extensively with him.

The presenter: Do you remember many of those training periods? Since I read that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted drills with you in the yard.

James: Yeah, I remember - the drills began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [the club and England attacker Lauren James].

The interviewer: Tell me about your initial club that you played for as a child, its name, and what can you remember?

The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I believe I was there for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at first, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and its development...

Reece: I began as a striker, and then eventually transitioned to the wing, left wing, right wing, and eventually to midfield, and then finally at defensive role, and I disliked it at the time.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Because I always wanted to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the ball as much but one day everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

Kelly: You said you started as a forward - who served as your role model?

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

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your career - a moment that has shaped you and the player you have evolved into?

Reece: I would probably say going on loan. Transitioning between academy and senior level is the hardest and this represents likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find difficult.

Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, of course. What made was Wigan the right club for you at that period? It was distant from all you knew in the capital - why did it work so effectively?

James: The first thing is that I played week in week out, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and had to grow up quickly. Participating on a regular schedule assisted a lot.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your professional journey?

The athlete: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] the veteran. He is nearly old enough to be my dad and has played at elite standard for so long. He always tried to help me from the minute he arrived and still does, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].

Kelly: How specifically would he assist you?

James: It was small pieces of advice off the pitch. During matches, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.

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

The defender: It proved wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his club did well in the tournament [they lost in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It's always good to encounter him.

The interviewer: If you could go back and replay one match in your career, which would you pick?

Reece: If the outcome is going to be the identical - it would be the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Other than winning, what made it exceptional about the occasion