Style Obsession, Idolizing Drogba & Friendship with Hamilton

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This Sports Conversation represents a new series where prominent figures from sports and entertainment participate with presenter the interviewer for candid and comprehensive discussions about the beautiful game.

We'll explore mental approach and motivation, covering defining moments, career highlights and individual insights. This series reveals the individual behind the player.

Reece James began training with the London club at six years old and - after developing through the academy and into the first team - is now team leader.

The defender introduced himself to the Stamford Bridge faithful in style, scoring on his first appearance in a comprehensive win over the opposition in September 2019.

Now 25, his professional achievements so far include making his international bow against the Welsh team in the year 2020, winning the European Cup with his club in 2021, and being appointed club captain in 2023.

However, things have not always gone smoothly, with a series of injuries affecting 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 Lewis Hamilton.

The interviewer: Initial inquiry: identity, your origins, and what's your coffee order?

The athlete: The name is Reece James, I grew up in Mortlake, 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?

James: No, it started with, like, vanilla lattes and stuff.

Kelly: We'll begin by discussing soccer. What significance does soccer hold to you?

The defender: I mean, from childhood, it was practically my entire focus in school. I wasn't the most academic student, and I just loved playing football.

The interviewer: Your first recollection of playing? Is this tough to answer because it was such a big part of your early years and growing up?

Reece: No, just because my recollection is quite poor. My earliest memory was likely, unsure, attending matches of my brother compete. He is two years older than me, and he also participated as well.

Kelly: It was significant in your household, correct, because your father was so heavily involved? He is a football coach too, isn't he? Tell me a little about that.

Reece: So there was three of us during childhood. We were completely soccer-obsessed, and he obviously was a coach as well, and we used to train a lot with him.

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

Reece: Yeah, I remember - the training started young. Fortunately, they paid off for myself and my sister [Chelsea and national team forward his sister].

The interviewer: Talk to me about your initial club that you played for as a youngster, its name, and your memories?

The defender: My recollection is limited, to be honest. It was Kew Park Rangers in the area. I think 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? Explain about your role evolution and its development...

Reece: I began as a forward, and then eventually transitioned to wide positions, left side, right side, and later to central positions, and then finally at defensive role, and I hated it at that period.

The presenter: Why did you hate it?

Reece: Since I always wanted to occupy central positions. There was less involvement with the ball as frequently but eventually everything fell into place and I became a right-back since.

The interviewer: You mentioned you started as an attacker - who was your idol?

Reece: My idol was [Didier] Drogba. I grew up as a Chelsea fan during youth and he was the player I admired.

Kelly: Identify a turning point in your career - an experience that has influenced your development and the professional you have evolved into?

The defender: I would probably say going on loan. Transitioning between youth and senior level is most challenging and that is likely what many athletes transitioning upwards find challenging.

The presenter: You're referring to the club, of course. Why was Wigan the right club for you at that period? It was miles away from everything you were familiar with in London - why did it work so effectively?

Reece: The first thing is that I featured consistently, which proves beneficial. I gained a lot of experiences - I moved away from my companions and family and was forced to mature fast. Participating on a consistent basis assisted significantly.

The interviewer: Who has had the biggest impact on your career?

The athlete: I'd identify [Brazil defender] the veteran. He's nearly old enough to be my father and has played at the highest level for so long. He always tried to help me from the minute he arrived and still does, even now he is not here [after leaving the club in that year].

Kelly: In what way would he assist you?

Reece: These were small pieces of advice off the pitch. On the pitch, he occasionally see things that I perceived alternatively and attempt and offer alternative perspectives.

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

Reece: It was wonderful to see him again. I'm pleased that his team did well in the tournament [they lost in the penultimate round to the champions his team]. It's consistently positive to encounter him.

Kelly: If you could go back and replay a single game in your career, which would you pick?

James: Assuming the result is remains the same - it would be the Champions League [final].

The host: Other than victory, what made it exceptional about that night