If there were a footballer who exemplified the ‘jack of all trades’ lifestyle, it would be Alex Scott MBE. Since retiring from her career as a right-back for Arsenal and the England national team in 2017, her foray into broadcasting, which she began during her playing days, has soared. For the last four years, Scott has hosted BBC's flagship Saturday lunchtime show, Football Focus; she also presents her own quiz show, The One Show, the annual Sports Personality of the Year event, and the Children in Need telethon.
However, beyond her role as a presenter and former footballer lies a deep passion for music. “I instantly became the England team DJ – the same with Arsenal!” she declares. “When I joined the England senior team, there was no music. I was this young kid walking around the hotel with my music blasting. I helped introduce it [to the locker room], and quickly noticed it helped people relax and avoid pre-game nerves. It was a way to unite the team.”
Scott reveals that when she retired, the role of team DJ was passed on to Arsenal and England captain Leah Williamson. “Leah always had excellent taste in music. She understood what being a team DJ meant. You quickly become the go-to person, with everyone asking, ‘What’s next on your playlist? Thanks for playing my song!’ It connected us.”
Although Scott recently attended Usher's mini-residency at London’s O2 Arena and has become a familiar face at the BRIT Awards, where she walked the red carpet with her girlfriend Jess Glynne, she still holds her musical roots dear. “I was fortunate to grow up in a household where music was always present, thanks to my Jamaican heritage,” she tells CLASH. “Family gatherings were filled with reggae and R&B. You could see the joy on everyone’s faces: music was a unifying force.”
Recalling her early influences, Scott cites Bob Marley and Nina Simone, thanks to her father's extensive vinyl collection, while the music she enjoyed with her school friends broadened her musical journey. “I remember my friends and I singing Mary J. Blige… my first concert was seeing her at Wembley Arena,” she reminisces. “Everyone else was into boy bands like Boyzone and Take That, while I was off to an R&B concert!”
Scott has also ventured into the fashion realm, finding excitement in it since she wasn't just a muse for the CLASH Baller Tapes shoot at The Langham, but a key collaborator. Influenced by '90s music videos and brands like Moschino, she often saved her pocket money to buy the latest outfits from shops on Bond Street. “From creating mood boards to figuring out our vision, and then seeing it all come together… it’s a complete collaboration,” she explains. “You reveal different facets of your personality. It’s crucial to own how you wish your style and personality to be perceived.”
In 2019, she participated in Strictly Come Dancing, where the glamour significantly enhanced her performances. “I was getting low scores in the initial weeks,” she reflects. “Then, I performed the Charleston. I knew how I wanted my hair styled, what suit I wanted to wear; I wanted to feel confident. That ended up being my best score. The judges said I had come into my own because I took control of my presentation. When I joined the show, others may have had perceptions of how I should look, which showed in my early performances as I didn’t feel at ease in my own skin. That was a significant lesson for me.”
Scott expresses admiration for David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, observing that they were "the first footballers who recognized they were more than just footballers," embracing a polymath mindset that includes taking charge of passions and interests outside of football. Completing a BA in Sports Writing and Broadcasting at Staffordshire University while playing for Arsenal reflects her drive to explore non-football pursuits.
As football careers are often short-lived, Scott highlights the necessity of preparing for life after retirement. “I believe it enriches you as a person because you acquire diverse insights about the world,” she clarifies. “Engaging in various conversations when you return to the football world can create a more positive environment, preventing it from becoming too consuming. It can sometimes turn toxic.”
“If Marcus Rashford had solely focused on football, he wouldn't have influenced government policy on free school meals. The same goes for the Lionesses. After winning the Euros in 2021, they quickly impacted government policies to ensure that girls had access to football in schools.”
Complex, overwhelming, and often harmful – the dual nature of social media in sports is evident through critics and keyboard warriors who chastise young footballers for not sticking strictly to football. When athletes use their platforms to express their “true authentic selves,” they frequently encounter backlash. Scott recalls discussing the pressures with former Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerín
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If there’s anyone who truly represents the ‘jack of all trades’ concept in football, it’s Alex Scott MBE. Since the days of the former Arsenal and England right-back’s