Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton
- Released
The Football Interview represents an innovative program where leading personalities from athletics and show business participate with presenter the interviewer for frank and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.
The program examines mental approach and motivation, covering defining moments, professional achievements and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the individual beyond the athlete.
Reece James started training with Chelsea at the age of six and - after developing through the youth system and into the first team - is now club captain.
James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, netting on his debut in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.
Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights so far include earning his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.
Nevertheless, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries affecting him over the past four seasons.
James sat down with Kelly Somers to talk about his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.
'He's nearly old enough to be my dad' - Reece James reveals Thiago Silva's impact on his career
Kelly Somers: First question: identity, your origins, and your preferred coffee?
The athlete: I am Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will know that area. My coffee is a specific coffee type.
The host: Has it always been a flat white?
Reece: No, it started with, like, vanilla lattes and stuff.
The presenter: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?
The defender: Essentially, from a little kid, it's kind of my entire focus in school. I wasn't the brightest kid, and I just loved the sport.
Kelly: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this difficult to answer because it represented a significant aspect of your childhood and growing up?
Reece: No, just because my recollection is quite poor. My first remembrance was probably, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling play. He's my senior by two years than me, and he used to play as well.
The host: It was big in your family, correct, because your father was so heavily involved? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a bit about that.
The athlete: So there was three children during childhood. It was completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.
Kelly: Can you recall a lot of those sessions? 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 drills started young. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [Chelsea and England forward his sister].
The interviewer: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a child, what was it called, and your memories?
The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was the local team in the area. I believe I was there for about twelve months. From that point that I was scouted for Chelsea.
Kelly: You didn't start as a defender at initially, correct? Talk to me about your positional journey and its development...
Reece: I began as a striker, and then eventually moved to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to central positions, and then eventually at defensive role, and I disliked it at that period.
The presenter: Why did you hate it?
Reece: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. There was less involvement with the football as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I became a defender since.
Reece James won the Champions League in that year when his team defeated Man City 1-0 in the final in Porto
The interviewer: You said you began as a forward - who was your idol?
Reece: The player I admired was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he represented the athlete I admired.
Kelly: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your professional life - an experience that has shaped you and the player you have evolved into?
The defender: I'd likely identify going on loan. Bridging the gap between youth and first-team football is the hardest and this represents likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find challenging.
The presenter: You're referring to the club, of course. Why was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? The location was miles away from everything you were familiar with in the capital - why did it work so well?
James: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which helps. I acquired valuable exposure - I relocated from my companions and family and was forced to mature fast. Participating on a regular schedule helped a lot.
The interviewer: Which individual exerted the biggest impact on your professional journey?
Reece: I would say [Brazil defender] 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 moment he arrived and continues to, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in 2024].
Kelly: In what way would he assist you?
Reece: These were little messages off the pitch. On the pitch, he would sometimes see things that I saw differently and attempt and paint a different picture.
Kelly: It must have been pleasant to see him this summer [during the tournament]?
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 is consistently positive to see him.
Kelly: If you could return and experience again one match in your professional history, what would you choose?
James: Assuming the result is remains the identical - it would be the European Cup decider.
Kelly: Besides victory, what made it exceptional about that night
