DECLAN Rice is a bonafide star. Last year he set a new record with his £105 million move from West Ham to Arsenal, making him one of the most expensive English players in history. He is England's number 4, and a likely contender to be the country's next captain.
This week Uefa Euro 2024 kicks off in Munich, and on Sunday England take on Serbia. "We want to make history," Rice said on his way to the airport on Monday. The weight on his shoulders is greater than ever, as manager Gareth Southgate has asked him to step up as dressing room leader, now that he is the oldest midfielder.
Rice and I meet where it all began: at Dickerage Sports and Community Centre in Kingston upon Thames. The newly renovated pitch has reopened following investment from Müller as part of Rice's ongoing partnership with the brand. It was there that he played five-a-side in his spare time while already a member of the Chelsea academy, which he joined aged seven.
"I used to be there every day when I wasn't training, and I could practice what I'd been told to work on by Chelsea," he has written. Today, he tells me: "This was the place where I felt safe and happy. Coming here gave me the confidence to know that I could interact with people over a game I love, and grow as a person."
He is there to give back, playing five a-side with scores of children to whom he is a hero. The queue for photos and autographs builds for hours even as it starts to rain. There isn't anyone for whom Rice doesn't make the time, smiling for every picture and signing every football that comes his way despite feeling "overwhelmed". "I'm quite a laid-back person," he says. "When I walked through the gate [earlier] I didn't want all the attention in a way. It's hard to think about the fact that I used to be one of those kids, looking at where I am now... It just happened so quick."
Denne historien er fra June 12, 2024-utgaven av Evening Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 12, 2024-utgaven av Evening Standard.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
In the eye of the storm A rich account of Britain's political chaos
Tim Shipman’s fourth and final tome covers Johnson to Sunak, via Truss
Is this government full of amateurs?
Labour's hard landing has revealed a cabinet struggling with the basics
It's going to be weird when the national anthem plays, but I'm so proud to lead the United States
Emma Hayes closed the book on 12 trophy-laden years at Chelsea with her fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title in May.
Can Guardiola fix 'fragile' City after latest implosion?
Rebuilding his ageing side will bea greater challenge than building it in the first place for one of the greats
London wins battle of the global city brands again...
...but the capital still has plenty of work to do ifit wants to keep that crown
At home with...Earl of East
The duo behind the fragrance brand have made a Leyton new-build their sanctuary
How evolution evolved: the risks and rewards of gene-editing technology
INDIA BLOCKspeaks to paediatrician and TV writer Dr Neal Baer about the controversial advancement
This beloved take on Dickens is a joyful gift that keeps on giving
AIl through a bright, bitter winter day I was smiling because I was coming to see Jack Thorne's adapAtation of Charles Dickens's story again.
Market merrymaking
Bundle up in your warmest coat, hat and mittens to visit the best Christmas markets in the UK.
Festive favourites
Perfect your Christmas spread with a vibrant spin on a seasonal staple.
