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

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The Football Interview represents a new series in which prominent figures from athletics and show business participate with presenter the interviewer for candid and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.

The program examines mental approach and motivation, discussing pivotal experiences, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the individual behind the player.

Reece James began training with the London club at the age of six and - after developing through the youth system and into the senior squad - is now team leader.

James announced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his debut in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

Now 25, James' career highlights to date include making his international bow against the Welsh team in the year 2020, claiming the Champions League with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed team skipper in 2023.

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

James sat down with Kelly Somers to discuss his professional peaks, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with multiple Formula One title winner Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: First question: name, where you're from, and your preferred coffee?

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in the area, near Richmond - I expect many will know that location. My coffee is a specific coffee type.

The host: Has it always been a that particular coffee?

Reece: Not exactly, I began with, like, flavored coffees and similar drinks.

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

Reece: I mean, from childhood, it was practically all I knew in education. I wasn't exactly the brightest kid, and I just loved playing football.

The interviewer: What's your earliest memory of playing? Is this tough to respond to because it represented a significant aspect of your early years and development?

James: Not particularly, just because my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, going to watch my brother compete. He's two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was big in your family, wasn't it, because your father was deeply engaged? He's a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a little about that.

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

Kelly: Do you remember a lot of those sessions? Since I learned that as young as the age of four, you practiced outdoors and he was doing exercises with you in the back garden.

Reece: Yeah, I remember - the training began early. Fortunately, they proved beneficial for me and my sister [Chelsea and England forward his sister].

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

Reece: I don't remember much, to be honest. It was Kew Park Rangers in Kew. I believe I played for about twelve months. From that point that talent spotters noticed me for Chelsea.

The host: And you weren't a defender at first, correct? Explain about your role evolution and how that changed...

Reece: I started off as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left side, right side, and eventually to midfield, and then finally at right-back, and I disliked it at that period.

Kelly: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Since I consistently desired to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the football as much but one day everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

Kelly: You mentioned you started as an attacker - who was your role model?

Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a supporter during youth and he represented the player I looked up to.

Kelly: Can you think of a turning point in your career - a moment that has shaped you and the professional you have become?

Reece: I'd likely identify the loan spell. Transitioning between academy and first-team football is most challenging and this represents probably what most players transitioning upwards find difficult.

Kelly: You're referring to the club, of course. What made was Wigan the ideal team for you at the time? The location was miles away from everything you knew in the capital - why did it work so effectively?

Reece: The primary factor is that I played week in week out, which helps. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and was forced to mature quickly. Participating on a regular schedule assisted a lot.

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

The athlete: I would say [Brazil defender] the veteran. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has played at the highest level for many years. He consistently attempted to help me from the moment he arrived and continues to, presently he is departed [after leaving the club in 2024].

Kelly: In what way would he help you?

James: It was little messages away from games. On the pitch, he would sometimes observe situations that I saw differently and attempt and paint a different picture.

The presenter: It must have been nice to see him recently [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It proved wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his team performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It's always good to encounter him.

The interviewer: Were you able to return and experience again a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?

James: Assuming the result is going to be the identical - it would be the Champions League [final].

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