Alex Scott MBE, the former Arsenal and England footballer, has become one of the most prominent sports broadcasters in the UK, shattering numerous glass ceilings in the media industry. As she prepares to present this year's Soccer Aid alongside Dermot O'Leary, we delve into the 41-year-old's distinguished career and personal life beyond the cameras.
Football and Broadcasting Career
Scott is universally recognised as a pioneer who made a flawless transition from elite sporting performance to mainstream television presenting. Joining Arsenal's ranks at just eight years old, she featured in three separate periods with the Gunners. Most memorably, she netted the decisive goal in the 2007 UEFA Women's Cup Final, clinching a historic quadruple for Arsenal. Her career also included a spell across the Atlantic with the Boston Breakers.
The defender amassed 140 caps for England, featuring for the Lionesses across four European Championships and three World Cups. She also wore the Great Britain shirt at the 2012 London Olympics. Following her retirement from football in 2018, Scott broke through numerous barriers in the media world. She became the first woman to serve as a football pundit for the BBC at a men's World Cup in 2018 and the first female pundit on Sky Sports' Super Sunday.
Her remarkable sporting accomplishments earned her an MBE in 2017, as well as inductions into both the English Football and WSL Halls of Fame. She went on to front BBC One's much-loved Football Focus as its lead presenter from 2021 until the programme's final curtain in May 2026, while also co-hosting high-profile shows including The One Show, Children in Need, and BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Romantic Relationship
Alex Scott is currently in a widely publicised relationship with Grammy-winning artist Jess Glynne. The couple first crossed paths at a London private members' club in early 2023, officially going public with their romance later that same year. During her appearance on I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, Scott openly declared her love, stating she is 'waiting for the proposal' and knows her 'forever' is with Glynne, prompting Glynne to tease on social media that she 'better go get a ring'.
Alongside her relationship with Glynne, Scott previously revealed her 'first love story' was an eight-year secret romance with her former Arsenal and England teammate, Kelly Smith, which lasted from 2005 to 2013. She explored this chapter in her 2022 autobiography, How (Not) To Be Strong. Scott chooses not to rigidly label her sexuality, having noted that she has happily 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 extremely difficult upbringing. During a 2021 episode of the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are?, a fascinating family history emerged. She learned her maternal Jewish great-grandfather battled fascists during the historic Battle of Cable Street, while another relative was a Black slave owner.
Social Media Career
Alex Scott has transformed her enormous public platform into a thriving commercial and social media presence, operating as a premium brand ambassador and lifestyle influencer spanning fashion, beauty, and fitness. Instead of typical transactional sponsorships, her influencer work focuses on substantial, enduring partnerships with prestigious British and global brands.
Scott, who commands 2.4 million Instagram followers, is widely praised for her polished personal aesthetic, effortlessly combining classic tailoring with contemporary street style. Towards the end of 2022, upmarket high-street brand Reiss named Scott as a global brand ambassador. She headlined their 'Every Moment is an Occasion' autumn/winter campaign, selecting her own fashion-forward collections. Given her illustrious sporting pedigree, Scott is a highly coveted figure for health, fitness, and lifestyle brands. In June 2024, Marks & Spencer appointed Scott as its inaugural activewear ambassador to strengthen its 'Brands at M&S' fitness apparel strategy. She regularly leverages her platform to showcase and champion their athleisure and sportswear collections.
She also upholds strong, enduring ambassadorial ties with elite sporting giants such as Nike and formerly Puma, helping to propel women's sportswear firmly into the mainstream. Scott broadened her influencer reach into the commercial beauty world 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 (such as their Fantasy Premier League digital challenge), BMW, Cadbury, and Barclays.
Diversity and Digital Advocacy
Beyond flogging 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, uplift aspiring female creators, and support domestic abuse charity initiatives.
