Yahoo Finance Jill Scott saluted as 'one of our best ever' ahead of her 150th cap for England
Jill Scott will make her 150 th appearance for England against Germany on Tuesday and is likely to go on to become her country’s most capped international player.Telegraph Sport spoke to those that know her best ahead of her 150th England cap to learn what makes her so special, on and off the pitch.
Lucy Bronze, England right back
“She has probably been one of the most influential players of the last decade in terms of what she brings to the team. When people talk about Jill, they tend to focus on what she is like off the pitch and how she is dead funny and always keeping the team entertained and giving good vibes. They talk about how much energy she has got and how much she runs.
“But she cares so much about the team and has worked so hard to stay on top of her game. To get 150 caps, it is absolute madness. She’s got so much more to her game. She does so much of the stuff other people do not want to do but she does it with such enthusiasm.
“It’s quite funny because, we’re good friends, but we didn’t really used to talk much. We didn’t start off best friends, we didn’t dislike each other, it’s just our personalities are complete opposite. We have more conversations now we are older and it’s like we have recognised that our different personalities balance things out perfectly. We’re like an old married couple.
“I’m straight to the point, be serious, logical and be honest. Jill is like be nice, be fun and remember people’s feelings. It’s just funny as we have got older, we have learned to appreciate each other and what they can add.
“That was something I needed to add to my game. I didn’t really think I needed to be nice to people, that emotions play a part in stuff. She’s the player that I’ve learnt that from, to appreciate the people that are around you.
“I was always I can do this and Jill reminds you that you need everyone around you to be on the same page. She has been like the captain of the team for the last decade without having that title. Everyone would say that about her.
“She has not realised how much influence she has had on people. She’s always too quick to give the praise to someone else. She can’t take praise, which just makes everyone like her even more.”
Carly Telford, England goalkeeper
“She has been massively underrated. She doesn’t have that worldie pass and she doesn’t score spectacular goals but what she has done in major tournaments and consistently over the last ten years, she has been the glue that sticks this team together.
“To still be doing what she does, she is still box-to-box at 33-year-old and still running some of the kids into the ground, it’s a tribute to her and how much she loves playing for England.
“She’s not just a teammate, she is my best friend and to play for England with your best friend, it’s just incredible. It’s been an absolute privilege to share this time with her. Jill just wants this team to win so much and I just hope in one of these next two or three major tournaments we can do it for her.
Mark Sampson, former England manager
“Jill was world class at what she brought to any game. People would be blinded by her incredible level of fitness and not realise she was the best in the world at what she did with and without the ball.
“We never faced an opponent who was as much of a threat at arriving in the box at the right time to score as Jill was. Added to that she was incredible at disrupting the opposition's possession and regaining the ball for the team.
“There was no doubt in my mind that in 2017 Jill would have been in a world eleven, no manager in the women's game wouldn't have wanted Jill in their team. She really was the glue of the team, without her suspension England could well have gone onto win Euro 2017, in that moment she was that important to the team.
“Off the field she kept that role as the glue in the team. Her personality was infectious, she was a role model to so many players whose contribution cha nged if they were in the team or not.
“Not Jill, she was a team player she would put every teammate or staff member first in every moment, she was selfless. I'm not sure any player I have ever worked who was more respected in a changing room than Jill Scott for that reason. On and off the pitch Jill was a key catalyst in moving England from a good team in 2014 to a World Class team in 2017. If she goes on to become England's most capped player it would be thoroughly deserved.”
Dawn Scott, England fitness coach
“I started with working with Jill when she was about 14 in my first stint with the FA and we had a regional centre [in the North East]. She hasn’t changed in terms of her personality. For any player to reach 150 caps, you don’t get there without putting in all the work on and off the pitch.
“Because she was also a track runner and a distance runner she had that natural athleticism but in football you can’t just lean on that. She’s been forgetful at times and had to be reminded to do certain things, but she wouldn’t have got to this stage without committing to all the strength and conditioning, the nutrition and the recovery.
“How long can she go on for? That’s not up to me but there are players who have lifted the World Cup and other trophies when they are 40-year-old and Jill is 33. It’s possible Jill can make another World Cup, it’s up to her. It does get harder as you get older but the more you look after yourself the longer you can go.
“There are a lot of miles in those long legs of hers, there is wear and tear, but how long does Jill want to go?
“Her character is the same, she’s very much the same Jill I met all those years ago. She has this daft persona but underneath she deeply cares and is a really good leader.
“Her work rate and effort, she leads by example. You need a mix of personalities in a team sport, you need a mixture of people to have a cohesive and successful team. She brings energy, humour and, erm, interesting conversations to the group, you need players like that.”
Casey Stoney, Manchester United manager and former England teammate
“When Jill first came into the squad she was young and enthusiastic and that enthusiasm never ever changed in the many years she has played.
Jill is one of the funniest and most genuine people I ever had the pleasure to play and with and call a friend. I roomed with her for many trips and she was as messy as she was funny.
“Jill is and has always been one the most hard working players in the England team and her fitness levels were one of the best throughout the years.
“She has been integral to both England’s and Manchester City’s success. One of the best players we have ever had.”
