22-year-old Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott has been included in England's latest squad, although he was still playing in England's eighth-tier league six years ago.
In a football world where young talents are increasingly being scouted by top youth academies from various countries at an earlier age, Alex Scott is a rare exception. In just six years, he climbed all the way from the eighth tier of English football, and finally received a call from Thomas Tuchel and donned the England national team jersey.
Alex Scott grew up on Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel that is closer to France... but is part of the United Kingdom. The island has only 64,000 residents. Interestingly, Matt Le Tissier, who has represented England eight times, was also born there.
However, he has no relationship with his half-sister Maia Le Tissier, who is a player for Manchester United Women's Football Team and a regular for the England Women's Football Team, even helping the team win the last European Championship by defeating Spain. "Maia and I played football together when we were kids, and we were very close, always discussing our respective games," Alex Scott said in an interview.
In fact, his path has not been smooth. "People from Guernsey and Jersey may not have the same opportunities as those in mainland England, so if you get a chance, you must seize it calmly." he admitted when talking about his experience of being repeatedly rejected by South English teams such as Southampton and Bournemouth during his youth training stage.
Finally, just a few days after he turned 16, Scott made his debut for Guernsey in the eighth-tier league. However, after only 15 games, he was poached by Bristol City (a Championship club) and joined their youth academy... But he quickly advanced to the first team.
His breakout in the top league didn't keep people waiting too long. After winning the U19 European Championship, he was named the best young player of the 2022-23 EFL Championship season and was included in the Team of the Season. During this period, he shone brightly in an FA Cup match against Manchester City, impressing Pep Guardiola. "He's an amazing player."
However, it was Iloura who finally recognized his talent, bringing him to Bournemouth - a club that had rejected him during Scott's youth training - and completing Bristol City's most expensive transfer in history for 23 million euros. "We're delighted to welcome Alex. He's one of the most talented young players in Europe. He fits perfectly into our system, and we can't wait to see him continue to grow under Iloura," said club CEO Neil Black.
However, when he landed at Vitality Stadium, his knee problem gradually worsened into a meniscus tear, causing him to hardly secure stable playing time in the first two seasons. But after winning the U21 European Championship with England last summer, Iraola has molded him into the 'brain' of Bournemouth, and he has started 11 games and played in a total of 12 matches this season.
This is not a coincidence. Assisted by his midfield partner, Tyler Adams, he excels in breaking through pressure and penetrating defenses with his elegant ball control and progressive ability. Statistics show that he averages 1.85 progressive carries per game and 0.87 successful dribbles per game. "His best position is '8', but he also performs very well in '6' and '10'. Moreover, he has good physical fitness, is fast, and can pose a threat when carrying the ball forward," analyzed Iraola.