Former England and Arsenal star Alex Scott MBE is a TV presenter who is returning to host Soccer Aid alongside Dermot O’Leary this year. We take a look at her illustrious career and life away from the screen
Alex Scott MBE is one of the most influential pioneers in British football, having made a seamless transition from a celebrated playing career into a top-flight sports broadcasting role. Scott spent the overwhelming majority of her highly distinguished domestic career as a right-back for Arsenal, across three separate stints.
Following her retirement, Scott, who hails from Poplar, London, shattered significant broadcasting barriers – becoming the BBC’s first female football pundit at a men’s World Cup (2018) and the first female pundit on Sky Sports‘ Super Sunday.
As she returns to co-host this year’s Soccer Aid alongside Dermot O’Leary, we take a closer look at the 41-year-old’s remarkable career and life away from the cameras.
Football and broadcasting career
Scott is widely considered a trailblazer in the footballer world, having moved effortlessly from an elite sporting career into mainstream television presenting.
Scott joined Arsenal at the age of eight and enjoyed three distinct spells at the club. She famously netted the winning goal in the 2007 UEFA Women’s Cup Final to clinch a historic quadruple for Arsenal. She also had a stint playing in the US for the Boston Breakers.
The former footballer earned 140 caps for England, representing the Lionesses in four European Championships and three World Cups. She also represented Great Britain at the 2012 London Olympics. Following her retirement from football in 2018, Scott broke through numerous media barriers. She became the first female football pundit for the BBC at a men’s World Cup (2018) and the first female pundit on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday.
Her outstanding sporting accomplishments secured her an MBE in 2017 and places in both the English Football and WSL Halls of Fame.
She subsequently took on the role of main presenter for BBC One’s legendary Football Focus from 2021 until its final broadcast in May 2026. She has also fronted prominent programmes including The One Show, Children in Need, and BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Romantic relationship
Alex Scott is presently in a widely publicised relationship with Grammy-winning artist Jess Glynne. The couple initially crossed paths at a London private members’ club in early 2023 and publicly confirmed their romance later that year.
During an appearance on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, Scott candidly expressed her love, revealing she is “waiting for the proposal” and recognises her “forever” is with Glynne, leading Glynne to joke on social media that she “better go get a ring”.
Alongside Glynne, Scott previously disclosed her “first love story” was an eight-year private romance with her former Arsenal and England colleague, Kelly Smith, which ran from 2005 to 2013. She discussed this in her 2022 autobiography, How (Not) To Be Strong.
Scott opts not to strictly define her sexuality, having acknowledged that she has contentedly loved both men and women throughout her life.
Family life and background
Born in Poplar, East London, to a Jamaican father and an English mother, Scott has spoken candidly about an exceptionally difficult upbringing.
A 2021 appearance on the BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? uncovered a remarkably varied family history. She learned that her maternal Jewish great-grandfather took part in the landmark Battle of Cable Street fighting fascists, while another ancestor was a Black slave owner.
Online career
Scott has capitalised on her enormous public profile to build a highly lucrative commercial and social media empire, operating as a top-tier brand ambassador and lifestyle influencer across fashion, beauty, and fitness.
Rather than straightforward one-off sponsorship deals, her influencer work revolves around significant, long-standing partnerships with prestigious British and international brands.
Scott, who commands 2.4million Instagram followers, is widely acclaimed for her keen sense of personal style, effortlessly combining classic tailoring with a contemporary street edge. In late 2022, upmarket high-street retailer Reiss named Scott as a global brand ambassador. She fronted their “Every Moment is an Occasion” autumn/winter campaign, putting together her own fashion-forward edits. Thanks to her illustrious sporting career, Scott is a highly coveted figure for health, fitness, and lifestyle brands. In June 2024, Marks & Spencer appointed Scott as its first-ever activewear ambassador to strengthen its “Brands at M&S” fitness apparel strategy. She regularly utilises her platform to showcase and promote their athleisure and sportswear collections.
She also maintains robust, enduring ambassadorial ties with elite sporting brands such as Nike and previously Puma, helping to propel women’s sportswear firmly into the mainstream.
Scott broadened her influencer reach into the commercial beauty sector by becoming a brand ambassador for Garnier UK, fronting campaigns specifically for their haircare and beauty ranges.
Her digital campaigns also feature some of the biggest household names around. She has led social media activations for Coca-Cola (including their Fantasy Premier League digital challenge), BMW, Cadbury, and Barclays.
Diversity and digital advocacy
Beyond commercial products, Scott harnesses her considerable digital presence as a tool for advocacy. Widely recognised as a diversity and inclusion speaker, she consistently uses her online platform to champion women’s sport, inspire young female creators, and support domestic abuse charity initiatives.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
