Football star Alex Scott reveals she is accused of ‘ticking a box’ in her post-sporting career… and admits she goes to therapy to be ‘awakened’
Football star Alex Scott has admitted she is accused of ‘ticking a box’ in her broadcasting career.
Speaking to Women’s Health’s Going For Goal podcast, Alex, 36, said: ‘Every job that I’m linked to and every job that I’m going to be doing on screen for the next couple of years, I know the first thing people will be saying – a lot of it because it is already happening – it’s because I’m ticking a box.
‘I came back from playing professional in America in 2012 just before the London Olympics, I was already thinking about my career after sport then.
Football star Alex Scott has admitted she is accused of ‘ticking a box’ in her broadcasting career
‘I went and I did a media degree in 2013 – I spent two years doing that for this same reason, so that no one could ever say that I was just ticking a box.’
Alex currently has a career in broadcasting, notably appearing as a pundit during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, having retired from football in 2017.
She went on to admit to Women’s Health that she goes to therapy, describing it as being ‘like an awakening’.
She said: ‘I absolutely love it. Some people think, oh going to therapy, why am I going to have someone tell me about myself, I know about myself, but it’s like a weight off my shoulders every single time I go. It has given me tools to deal with things.’
Speaking to Women’s Health’s Going For Goal podcast , Alex, 36, said: ‘Every job that I’m linked to and every job that I’m going to be doing on screen for the next couple of years, I know the first thing people will be saying is it’s because I’m ticking a box’
The former Strictly contestant admitted recently that she was severely trolled during her career and that her mental health suffered.
She also explained that she didn’t admit to it and would try hiding it, asserting that she knows now that ‘it’s okay not to be okay’.
Alex explained that she aspired to have a broadcast career like Gabby Logan or Clare Balding.
‘They are so well respected in their field, ultimate professionals,’ she said.
She went on: ‘I came back from playing professional in America in 2012 just before the London Olympics, I was already thinking about my career after sport then’
On inspiring young people, Alex added: ‘I absolutely love it when people come up to me in the street, and it’s not just young girls watching me, it’s young boys.
‘They love seeing me and talking about football, because that’s where we’re going to change perceptions and change how normal it is that anyone can sit there and do that job.’
Listen to the full Alex Scott interview on the Women’s Health Going for Goal podcast from 15th October.