Fashion Passion, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton
- Released
The Football Interview constitutes an innovative program where leading personalities from sports and entertainment participate with host the interviewer for candid and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.
We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering pivotal experiences, career highlights and individual insights. The Football Interview uncovers the individual behind the player.
The Chelsea defender began practicing with the London club at six years old and - after developing through the youth system and into the first team - is now team leader.
The defender introduced himself to Chelsea supporters in style, netting on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over Grimsby Town in September 2019.
Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights so far include earning his international bow against Wales in 2020, winning the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.
However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries impacting him over recent years.
James sat down with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, Thiago Silva's influence, and his friendship with seven-time F1 world champion the racing driver.
The defender discusses the veteran's influence on his career
The interviewer: First question: identity, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?
The athlete: The name is Reece James, I was raised in the area, near Richmond - I expect more people will know that location. My beverage is a flat white.
The host: Was it consistently a that particular coffee?
Reece: No, it started with, such as, flavored coffees and similar drinks.
The presenter: We'll begin by talking football. What does football mean to you?
Reece: I mean, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored playing football.
The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of participating? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your early years and growing up?
James: Not particularly, just because my recollection is so bad. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my sibling compete. He is two years older 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's a football coach too, right? Tell me a little about that.
The athlete: Well there was three children growing up. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.
Kelly: Do you remember a lot of those sessions? Because I read that starting from the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he conducted exercises with you in the yard.
James: Yes, I recall - the training began early. Fortunately, they paid off for myself and my sibling [the club and England forward Lauren James].
The interviewer: Talk to me about your first ever team that you represented as a youngster, its name, and your memories?
The defender: My recollection is limited, frankly. It was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I believe I was there for about a year. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.
The host: You didn't start as a defender at initially, were you? Talk to me about your positional journey and how that changed...
Reece: I began as a forward, and then subsequently moved to wide positions, left wing, right side, and later to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I hated it at the time.
The presenter: What caused your dislike for it?
The athlete: Because I consistently desired to play midfield. There was less involvement with the football as much but one day it just clicked and I've been a right-back since.
Reece James won the prestigious trophy in that year when Chelsea defeated Manchester City by one goal in the final in Porto
The interviewer: You said you began as a forward - who served as your role model?
James: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a supporter during youth and he was the player I admired.
The host: Can you think of a turning point in your professional life - an experience that has shaped you and the player you have evolved into?
Reece: I would probably say the loan spell. Bridging the gap between youth and senior level is most challenging and this represents likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find difficult.
Kelly: You're referring to Wigan, of course. Why did Wigan become the ideal team for you at that period? The location was distant from all you knew in the capital - what made it successful so well?
Reece: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I acquired a lot of experiences - I relocated from my friends and family and was forced to mature fast. Participating on a regular schedule assisted significantly.
The interviewer: Which individual exerted the greatest influence 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 the highest level for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the moment he joined and continues to, presently he is not here [after leaving the club in 2024].
The host: How specifically would he assist you?
James: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I saw differently and try and offer alternative perspectives.
The presenter: It was undoubtedly pleasant to meet him recently [at the Club World Cup]?
The defender: It was wonderful to reconnect with him. I'm pleased that his team performed admirably in the competition [they lost in the semi-finals to the champions Chelsea]. It is always good to see him.
Kelly: If you could return and replay one match in your professional history, what would you choose?
Reece: Assuming the result is going to be the identical - I'd select the European Cup decider.
The host: Other than victory, what was so special about that night
