Fashion Passion, Idolizing Didier Drogba & Friendship with Lewis Hamilton

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The Football Interview represents a new series where prominent figures from athletics and entertainment join host Kelly Somers for candid and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.

The program examines mindset and motivation, covering defining moments, professional achievements and individual insights. The Football Interview reveals the person beyond the player.

Reece James started practicing with the London club at six years old and - having progressed through the youth system and into the first team - is now club captain.

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in impressive fashion, scoring on his debut in a 7-1 victory over the opposition in 2019.

Currently twenty-five, James' career highlights so far include making his international bow against the Welsh team in 2020, claiming the European Cup with Chelsea in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

However, his journey hasn't been without challenges, with a series of injuries affecting him over the past four seasons.

The athlete spoke with the interviewer to talk about his career highs, the Brazilian's impact, and his relationship with seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: name, where you're from, and what's your coffee order?

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

The host: Was it consistently a flat white?

Reece: No, I began with, like, flavored coffees and stuff.

The presenter: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What does football mean to you?

The defender: I mean, from a little kid, it's kind of all I knew in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I simply adored the sport.

Kelly: Your first recollection of participating? Is this tough to answer because it was such a big part of your early years and development?

Reece: Not particularly, simply due to my memory is so bad. My first remembrance was likely, I don't know, attending matches of my brother play. He's two years older than me, and he used to play as well.

Kelly: It was big in your household, wasn't it, because your dad was so heavily involved? He is a soccer trainer too, right? Share with me a bit about that.

The athlete: Well there was three of us during childhood. It was all football mad, and he obviously was a trainer as well, and we frequently practiced a lot with him.

The presenter: Can you recall a lot of those training periods? Because I read that as young as the age of four, you were outside and he was doing exercises with you in the yard.

Reece: Yes, I remember - the drills began early. Thankfully, they paid off for myself and my sibling [Chelsea and England forward his sister].

Kelly: Tell me about your initial club that you played for as a child, its name, and your memories?

The defender: I don't remember much, frankly. That was the local team in the area. I believe I played for about a year. It was from there that I was scouted for Chelsea.

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

James: I started off as a striker, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left side, 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: Because I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as frequently but one day everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

Kelly: You said you began as a forward - who was your idol?

Reece: The player I admired was [Didier] Drogba. I was a Chelsea fan growing up and he was the athlete I admired.

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

Reece: I'd likely identify going on loan. Transitioning between youth and senior level is the hardest and that is probably what most players transitioning upwards find difficult.

Kelly: You're talking about the club, naturally. 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?

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 relatives and had to mature quickly. Playing on a regular schedule assisted significantly.

Kelly: Who has had the biggest impact on your professional journey?

Reece: I would say [the experienced Brazilian] Thiago Silva. He is almost sufficiently experienced to be my father and has competed at elite standard for many years. He consistently attempted to assist me from the minute he joined and still does, even now he is departed [having left Chelsea in 2024].

Kelly: How specifically would he help you?

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

Kelly: It was undoubtedly pleasant to see him this summer [at the Club World Cup]?

Reece: It proved great to see him again. I'm pleased that his team performed admirably in the tournament [they were defeated in the semi-finals to the champions his team]. It is always good to see him.

Kelly: Were you able to go back and replay a single game in your professional history, what would you choose?

Reece: If the outcome is going to be the same - it would be the European Cup decider.

Kelly: Besides victory, what made it exceptional about that night