Top 33 Alex Scott Quotes

For me, football is football. I’m a fan; I’m passionate. I feel lucky to be in the position that I am.

Although more teams are going full-time professional and there’s more money involved, our main incentive is simply to play for the love of the game.

I’m just happy I get paid to train every day and play football. I can’t ask more than that.

It’s no secret that I love dancing and music.

As a pundit, I have to tell the truth. I think players will respect that. Well, I hope they do.

To walk out at Wembley in an England shirt is a big deal for a girl who remembers playing in her local football cage down the park in Poplar with the boys.

I see I’m changing the game and opening doors for others, from my beginning from the east end of London. It’s not a sob story; it made me the person I am today. It’s seeing kids from any area or background you’re from. There’s a chance; you can make it.

The U.S.A. have a ‘football arrogance,’ which means winning is in their DNA – nothing else is good enough.

I like the way Frank Lampard articulates, like the fact Jamie Carragher really does his homework and the way Rio Ferdinand has been able to show his personality while giving those insights.

When I finished playing, I didn’t think I would be able to replace the buzz you feel at kick-off, but when the light on top of the camera turns red, and you’re about to go live to the nation, it is a very similar feeling.

Even when I play in World Cups, I don’t look at things like that. It’s something that I want to be doing, so why would I put extra pressure on myself? I’m just going to go out there and enjoy it.

My hardest lesson has been my most fruitful, too: that when people don’t believe in me, I can prove them wrong.

Every player has their own story, but I always thought of playing on my estate with dreams of what I might be able to achieve.

I’ve realised that there is no magic trick to television; it just comes down to hard work and being prepared for every appearance and trying to get your point across as clearly as possible.

I remember when I first got into the England side, going to meet ups where you were just doing a job, you were almost looking to go back to your clubs as soon as you arrived. That changed. The Lionesses got the feel of a club; it was a place you wanted to be, a set-up you couldn’t wait to join.

Most of my football education was under Hope Powell, and were some of her training sessions boring? Yes. But were they necessary? Yes. We fully understood what we needed to do as a defensive unit.

When I played for Boston Breakers in my early twenties, I really stepped up my training, which meant running drills until you’re sick.

I never want anyone to think I’ve been given a helping hand. I’ve always worked for everything, whether it be on the football field or away from it.

When I was younger, my food and fitness were less controlled – I just loved football.

There’s always a responsibility as a pundit, whether you’re male or female: the way you present yourself, making sure you’ve got your facts right.

I watch a lot of live music, and I love the theatre, especially musicals.

My body shape has transformed as sports science research has developed. It used to be thought that footballers needed to be big and do lots of weights and little cardio.

Being a footballer was about analysing performance, never being satisfied, seeing what lessons you can learn and who you can learn from.

My first thought for the off season is to go somewhere hot and on the beach.

When I started, when I was eight, I never thought I would make a career out of being a woman footballer.

Sure, I do feel I am an ambassador for women’s football. But that hasn’t changed. It’s been like that since I started at eight years old. I’m still me.

I loved getting messages from people saying they were watching during the World Cup with their son or daughter, and they could see they could be involved, too. That was so powerful.

I didn’t want to come to the end of my career and think, ‘What next?’

No matter what happens to our game, money won’t be a motivation for me.

Some people don’t like change. Some embrace it. But the way it’s going – not just in football, but in society generally – it’s more diverse. People want freshness.

Being away with a national side at a tournament can be hard – you train, go back to your hotel, and often, you sit in your room, watching TV or speaking to people at home. If there’s no communal area, it can feel like being in prison, staring at the same four walls all the time.

My attitude as a footballer was to always be prepared – make sure you’re the fittest and know who you’re up against. And that’s exactly how I treat the media side.

I love travelling to the games and doing them pitchside with Gabby Logan.