We sat down with Arsenal and Lionesses legend Alex Scott to understand more about her career post-playing, how she transitioned into life as a pundit and how she spends her summers now…
SAB: Biggest challenge when you stepped away from professional football?
Alex: Definitely being away from that team environment. The team become like your family. You see them every day. Just the banter that you have and the ups and downs you go through as a team. I definitely missed that.
SAB: What’s been the best bit about retiring?
Alex: That I can go out and not worry about being up for training! I can go to some festivals in the summer now. It’s just the sacrifices that you have to give up for training and games. I love the leeway I have now.
SAB: What is something people may not realise about retirement?
Alex: The come down of it all. When that routine is taken away from you, it can be hard to try and find an identity when you’ve always been known as a footballer. Then stepping into something new can be scary and a lot of people might not experience what’s that like for athletes.
SAB: How did you find your passion after football?
Alex: I was lucky. I thought about my career whilst I was still in football. I was forward planning, instead of waiting for it to end. I’ve always loved conversation and wanted to elevate the women’s game.
I knew there was a space for me and it was always my passion and my purpose became getting into the media world to try and open doors for others. I had a mission and I wanted to go in that direction.
SAB: Can more be done to support ex-players?
Alex: Ex-players and athletes are starting to speak out more about wishing they had more education and opportunities whilst they were playing. People are starting to understand that and ex-players are having that voice and using that to say, ‘Look we can’t wait until the end of a player’s career before helping them’.
SAB: What are your passions?
Alex: Music has always been my passion. Any chance I get to go to live gigs, I do! Also festivals because I’ve always had tournaments in the summer so Glastonbury is still on my bucket list. I love theatre and also spending time with family and friends.
SAB: How do you maintain your fitness without football?
Alex: It’s tough out here, I tell you! Sometimes, I think I’m an athlete and then I pull a muscle which is my body reminding me that I’m not a player anymore! I do a lot of gym sessions and a lot of high-intensity workouts before I have to rush off and get to the studio.
SAB: What ‘ballers do you think are on the rise?
Alex: She’s already had a great season last year – Grace Clinton. But it’s just interesting going back to Manchester United in that environment, around a different set of players – can you do it again? With England, there are huge games coming up with the Lionesses so I want to see her keep shining.
SAB: Who was your favourite footballer growing up?
Alex: It was different times, but I always looked up to Ian Wright. I loved when he was playing. You could see how much he loved the game. Everything was a pinch-me moment and felt dream-like. He was never a, ‘Look at me, I’m that footballer’.
It was always reminded me, whether that was tournaments for Arsenal or with England, why I started and to always do it with a smile on my face.
SAB: Who is the toughest opponent that you’ve faced?
Alex: It’s questionable between Marta and Abby Wambach – totally different players! You’ve got that Brazilian flair and skill with Marta and you never knew what she was going to do. But then Abby just had that power and it was so hard to deal with, especially me being so short to be up against her, trying to win headers.
I’m going to go with Marta but it was always a challenge and I just loved it every time I went up against her.
SAB: Best memory on the pitch?
Alex: It’s easy to say the quadruple season – it went down in history. No one’s done that since in the women’s game. But also getting to play at Wembley with Arsenal in the FA Cup, lifting that trophy.
When I had that moment I knew I was ready to retire and move on to the next career. I cried like a baby lifting that trophy – it was such a special moment.
SAB: If you could trade shirts with anyone in history who would it be?
Alex: I was that player that never traded my shirts. I never wanted players to think I wanted their shirt so I was always like, ‘I respect you but I don’t need to trade shirts’. Now, I wish I’d have done it more.
I always loved and modelled my game off of Kafu, the right back – he was incredible. If I ever manage to get his shirt, I would definitely do that and frame it. I’ve met him a couple of times but the shirt swap has never happened.
SAB: Where do you see yourself in the next 5-10 years?
Alex: That’s tough. I think people are always rushing to get through the next few years. With my life, at the moment, it’s been so fast paced transitioning from football into punditry and I’ve not had much a time to sit and reflect and take it all in and be present.
For the next year, yes, I’ll be doing all I can to elevate the women’s game and open doors for others but I also need to take a moment and sit in the moment of being like, ‘You’ve not done too bad and just to enjoy what’s to come’.
SAB: Who would be in your ultimate 5-a-side team?
Alex: Emma Byrne in goal – an icon and ledge and never got the praise she deserved. We won the Champions League because of Emma. Two defenders – can I throw myself in there. Attackers – Formiga, Brazilian midfielder – you could never get the ball off of her and so much flair. I’ve got to throw Marta in there.
One more….wait can I go all out attack. Can I throw Lauren James in there? We can smash goals in and I can just sweep up at the back with Emma.
SAB: What advice do you have for young ballers?
Alex: My piece of advice: there are going to be many ups and downs but in the down moments, they’re the moments that will make you stronger and that you’ll learn the most lessons. It will all be worth it in the end with your hard work.
Watch the full interview here: