Meet Jordan James, Rennes' young Welsh star
One To Watch
In a recent interview with Ouest-France, Stade Rennais and Wales midfielder Jordan James opened up about life in Brittany, his adaptation to Ligue 1 McDonald's and more.
When you have a former professional footballer as a father (Tony James, who played up to the English fourth tier), is it obvious to follow the same path?
He was my idol! I used to watch him every weekend and I wanted to be like him. He didn't play the same position as me, he was a central defender. But he's someone I will always admire, no matter where I am in my career.
Did he push you to break into football?
No. He never pushed me to reach a level that he hadn't reached himself. A lot of parents do that, they want to see their children succeed and reproduce what they see on TV. But my father was never like that, he let me do what I wanted. I wanted to play football 24/7.
How did you end up at Birmingham City at the age of eight?
I started playing football at the age of three or four at Pegasus, a local club in Hereford where I was born. When I was eight, we went to play a tournament in Birmingham with some small local teams, but also Aston Villa and Birmingham City. They spoke to my dad to see if they could give me a six-week trial. Birmingham’s season started earlier, so I went and they wanted to sign me after a week. For me, it was unimaginable, I accepted straight away. School finished at three in the afternoon and I lived an hour’s drive away. I would travel straight from school, train, drive an hour back and it would be nine or ten in the evening… I always asked my parents: “Why did you do this for me?” And they always said to me, “You’re following your dream, this is what you always wanted to do.” I owe them a lot because they’re the reason I’m here today.
28' : 📸
≡ #FCNSRFC 0-0 pic.twitter.com/xBQ5niKAHh— Stade Rennais F.C. (@staderennais) December 8, 2024
Did you always dream of playing in midfield?
Yes, I always wanted to be like them. Frank Lampard is the one I looked up to the most, he was able to be in the box a lot and score a lot of goals. He was a number 8 and he could attack and defend. It’s something I thought I was capable of doing.
You were born in England but close to Wales, and you played for both teams when you were young. Do you feel like you have a dual identity?
I’ve always felt Welsh. My dad is very proud of his country, he’s Welsh and my mum is English. He’s always tried to instill Welsh culture in me. When I play for Wales I have this feeling inside that I can’t really describe, it means the world to me when I represent my country. It’s an incredible feeling.
Why did you join England U20s after playing for Wales up to U18s?
The opportunity just came up. It was a tough decision to make, I spoke to my dad and he said, “It’s up to you. You can try it and see how you feel.” When I went, it just wasn’t the same. I didn’t feel like I was playing for my country and I didn’t belong, I didn’t feel the same pride as with Wales. I played two games for them, came back with Wales and I never looked back.
You experienced the 2022 World Cup from the inside but as a reserve. Was it a disappointment not to make the final squad?
I don’t think you can call it a disappointment when you go to a World Cup (laughs). I was 18, it was incredible, it was like being inside a TV. I had spoken to the coach Rob Page who wanted me to come and have this experience and be with the team. It really helped me to integrate to be able to talk to very high level players, to learn from them and to see what a big tournament is, because it is very different from club football.
Was it a difficult decision to leave Britain, which is something that not many British footballers do?
Yes. When I made the decision to come here, it was a very important moment. It’s a scary thing, you’re going to a place you’ve never been to, you don’t speak the language, everything is different. But I wanted to give it a try and experience something new. I’ve lived in Birmingham all my life, so leaving the country was a big change for me. I think players don’t really want to try because it can be dangerous: if you’re not playing, if you’re not happy, it’s hard to talk to people. But it’s a step I wanted to take in my career, and people look at you differently if you’ve played somewhere other than Britain.
Have you ever heard of Bro Gozh ma zadou, the Breton anthem adapted from the Welsh anthem and played before every match at Roazhon Park?
For my first home match, it sounded familiar. When I realised it was the same tune as the Welsh anthem, it was quite special. It definitely brings back memories every time I hear it.
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