Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents an innovative program in which leading personalities from athletics and show business participate with presenter the interviewer for frank and detailed dialogues about football.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, discussing pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the individual beyond the athlete.

Reece James started practicing with Chelsea at the age of six and - after developing through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include making his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the European Cup with Chelsea 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 Kelly Somers to talk about his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: name, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

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

Kelly: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

Reece: No, I began with, such as, vanilla lattes 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 exactly the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.

Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this tough to answer because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?

James: Not particularly, just because my recollection is so bad. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, attending matches of my sibling compete. He's my senior by two years than me, and he also participated as well.

The host: It was significant in your family, wasn't it, because your dad was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Share with me a little about that.

Reece: So we were three children growing up. We were all football mad, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those training periods? Since I learned that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I recall - the drills began early. Thankfully, they proved beneficial for myself and my sister [Chelsea and national team forward Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a child, its name, and what can you remember?

Reece: My recollection is limited, frankly. That was the local team in Kew. I believe I was there for about a year. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

The host: And you weren't a backline player at initially, were you? Talk to me about your role evolution and how that changed...

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

The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?

Reece: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. You didn't touch the ball as frequently but eventually everything fell into place and I've been a defender since.

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

Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan during youth and he was the athlete I looked up to.

Kelly: Identify a pivotal moment in your professional life - a moment that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?

Reece: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between youth and senior level is the hardest and this represents probably what many athletes making the jump find difficult.

The presenter: You're talking about Wigan, naturally. Why did Wigan become the right club for you at the time? The location was distant from all you were familiar with in London - 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 was forced to grow up quickly. Playing on a consistent basis helped significantly.

Kelly: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your career?

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] Thiago Silva. He's nearly old enough to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for many years. He always tried to help me from the minute he joined and still does, even now he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].

Kelly: How specifically would he assist you?

James: These were little messages away from games. During matches, he occasionally see things that I perceived differently and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

The presenter: It must have been pleasant to meet him recently [during the tournament]?

The defender: It proved great to see him again. I'm pleased that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the penultimate round to eventual winners his team]. It is consistently positive to see him.

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

Reece: If the outcome is remains the identical - I'd select the European Cup decider.

The host: Other than victory, what was so special about the occasion