Reece James has taken over the captaincy at Chelsea, succeeding Cesar Azpilicueta, who recently departed the club.
The official announcement was made by Chelsea on their website last Wednesday.
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The club emphasized that Reece, a devoted Chelsea fan from a young age who joined the Academy at six, was the natural choice to lead both on and off the field in the upcoming season.
Expressing his delight at the appointment, Reece James shared, “I’m incredibly pleased to embrace this role and the responsibilities that come with it.
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I’m fully aware that there’s a significant legacy to uphold due to the remarkable captains we’ve had in the past.
However, I’m genuinely excited about this opportunity.”
Having been associated with Chelsea since childhood, he said, “My journey with Chelsea began when I was just six years old.
Navigating through the Academy was a challenging process, but progressing to become the captain feels truly rewarding, not just for me, but also for my family.”
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Mauricio Pochettino, the head coach, voiced his satisfaction with the decision, stating, “The choice to appoint Reece as the captain was a collective decision made by both myself and the club.
We are highly content that Reece will lead the team this season.
He’s a shining example of leadership and his commitment to Chelsea has been evident during the preseason.
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He capably wore the captain’s armband during our summer tour, and I’m confident he’ll rise to the occasion with his perspective and strategies.”
Reece James enjoyed considerable success during his time in the Academy, securing victory in the FA Youth Cup twice as a member of the Under-18s.
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He notably captained the team to their second triumph in this competition in 2018.
His journey into the Chelsea first team began ahead of the 2019/20 season under the guidance of Frank Lampard.
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He made an impactful debut by scoring a long-range goal against Grimsby Town, and his memorable strike against Ajax in the Champions League further solidified his presence.
Throughout his second season, he accumulated 47 appearances, contributing significantly to Chelsea’s attainment of their second Champions League title.
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