Style Obsession, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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The Football Interview represents an innovative program in which prominent figures from athletics and show business join presenter the interviewer for candid and comprehensive dialogues about the beautiful game.

The program examines mindset and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and personal reflections. The Football Interview reveals the individual behind the athlete.

Reece James began practicing with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the academy and into the first team - is now team leader.

The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in impressive fashion, scoring on his first appearance in a 7-1 victory over Grimsby Town in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, his professional achievements to date include making his international bow against Wales in 2020, winning the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being named team skipper in 2023.

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

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 the racing driver.

Kelly Somers: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and what's your coffee order?

The athlete: I am Reece James, I was raised in Mortlake, near Richmond - I expect many will recognize that location. My coffee is a flat white.

The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?

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

The presenter: Let's start by talking football. What does football mean to you?

The defender: I mean, from childhood, 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 answer because it was such a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?

Reece: Not particularly, just because my recollection is so bad. My first remembrance was likely, unsure, going to watch 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, wasn't it, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, right? Tell me a bit about that.

Reece: So we were three of us during childhood. It was all football mad, and he naturally was a coach as well, and we frequently practiced extensively with him.

The presenter: Do you remember a lot of those training periods? Since I learned that starting from the age of four, you were outside and he conducted drills with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yeah, I remember - the drills started young. Thankfully, they paid off for me and my sister [Chelsea and national team attacker Lauren James].

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you represented as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

Reece: I don't remember much, frankly. That was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I think I was there for about twelve months. It was from there that talent spotters noticed me for the professional club.

The host: You didn't start as a defender at first, were you? Talk to me about your role evolution and how that changed...

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

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

The athlete: Because I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as frequently but one day it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.

Kelly: You mentioned you started as an attacker - who served as your idol?

Reece: My idol was [the legendary] Drogba. I was a supporter growing up and he was the athlete I looked up to.

The host: Can you think of a pivotal moment in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the professional you have become?

Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Transitioning between youth and first-team football is the hardest and this represents likely what most players making the jump find difficult.

The presenter: You're referring to Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at the time? It was miles away from all you knew in London - why did it work so well?

Reece: The primary factor is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my friends and relatives and had to grow up fast. Playing on a regular schedule helped significantly.

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

Reece: I'd identify [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my dad and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he joined and still does, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].

The host: How specifically would he assist you?

James: These were little messages off the pitch. During matches, he occasionally see things that I saw differently and attempt and paint a different picture.

Kelly: It must have been pleasant to see him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm happy that his club did well in the competition [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions his team]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

The interviewer: Were you able to go back and replay a single game in your career, what would you choose?

James: Assuming the result is remains the identical - I'd select the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Other than winning, what made it exceptional about that night