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Alex Scott is former footballer turned television presenter and pundit
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Scott starred for Arsenal and England, ranking fourth all-time in caps for the Three Lions
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Read below for more on Alex Scott wealth estimates and her career to date
If you’re doing some research before placing an online football bet, there’s a good chance you’re already very familiar with Alex Scott.
A former England international, pundit and now presenter, Scott has developed a reputation as one of the best football analysts on television.
A reliable full-back and a star for England and Arsenal in her playing days, Scott featured in women’s football betting tips until she retired in 2018 to take up a career in journalism.
Here’s a look at Scott’s footballing career and her transition to becoming a popular journalist.
Alex Scott Estimated Wealth
There are varying reports of Alex Scott’s net worth. Some websites place Scott’s estimated wealth between £1 million and £5 million. Others believe it’s under £1 million.
The money in the women’s game is incomparable to that in the Premier League. Scott’s salary from her playing days isn’t publicly known, and even the highest paid female footballers are wildly underpaid.
Scott’s salary will have soared recent years as her media career has flourished.
BBC presenters are handsomely compensated – as is often the topic of debate – and Scott has worked tirelessly over the last few years, appearing as a presenter, pundit and commentator.
Who Did Alex Scott Play For?
Alex Scott signed with Arsenal when she was just eight years old. Initially a forward, Scott soon switched to right-back.
She moved to Birmingham City in 2005, but only had a short stint with the club as financial difficulties put the Blues under pressure to cut salary.
Re-joining Arsenal, Scott was a star of one of the best women’s football teams. The Gunners became the first English side to win the UEFA Women’s Cup, and they completed a remarkable quadruple in the same season.
A new league was created in the US called Women’s Professional Soccer in 2008. Scott was originally assigned to the Chicago Red Stars, but she was soon traded to the Boston Breakers.
The England international left north London for Boston, though she returned to the Gunners in 2012 following the collapse of WPS. She went on to win the 2012 Super League with Arsenal as well as three more FA Cups.
On top of a decorated club career, Scott also starred on the international stage.
Her 140 England caps is the fourth-most all-time, while she also started in all four matches of Great Britain’s run to the quarter-finals of the 2012 Olympics.
Alex Scott Journalism
Where many players turn towards coaching and scouting at the end of their careers, Alex Scott always knew journalism was the path she wanted to follow.
Scott completed a Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting degree at Staffordshire University while still playing for Arsenal.
Her media career has only gone from strength to strength since then, featuring on the BBC’s FA Cup coverage, Match of the Day and becoming the first female pundit to report on a men’s World Cup in 2018.
Recently taking over as presenter of Football Focus, Scott has become one of the faces of football broadcasting. Writing for the BBC after her new role was announced, Scott gave insight on her journey to date.
She said, “Towards the end of my footballing career, some were suggesting coaching and management but I had such a strong passion to take this path.
"I completed my degree in sports journalism and broadcasting, and countless work experience placements from Sky Sports, Arsenal TV and London Live.
"This was to ensure not only I had the correct skills, but so no-one could ever question my place or my merit.”
Alex Scott Football Focus
Alex Scott was announced as the new presenter of Football Focus in May 2021, succeeding Dan Walker.
Walker held the role for 12 years. He was departing at the end of the 2020/21 campaign, meaning there was a vacancy to lead the show, and Scott was appointed to become the first permanent host of Football Focus, the BBC’s Saturday lunchtime football show.
The announcement was a big moment for sports media. Scott is a trailblazer, hopefully provoking significant changes to the demographic of people covering football.
The former Arsenal defender said, “When I was a kid, I would never have watched television and thought someone like me could be presenting a programme like Football Focus.
"For the BBC to trust me with this role and allow me to be my true, authentic self means a lot. To say I’m the Football Focus presenter feels surreal.
“I was one of the first female pundits on the BBC and I clearly remember being determined to transcend from being labelled a ‘female pundit’ to ‘pundit’.
"Besides the statements surrounding my gender or my race, after being part of the BBC family for six years, I want people see me on TV and think ‘she’s great at what she does’.”
Presenting has always been the goal, and Scott took the time to thank several of her colleagues for their help along the way.
“From day one, Dan Walker has guided me… Dan knew I wanted to be a presenter so he helped hone my skills and allowed me to step out of my ‘pundit’ comfort zone on the show.
"In fact, everyone around me - from Gabby Logan to Mark Chapman - and so many people behind the scenes have helped me to get to this point.”
Alex Scott On FIFA 22
Alex Scott has already notched plenty of firsts. On FIFA 22, she became the first female commentator in the franchise’s history.
Undoubtedly one of the best football pundits, Scott’s inclusion is thoroughly deserved.
It’s an overdue step from EA Sports, though, given their slow progress in adding women’s football teams to the game.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 14th October 2021
