Arsenal Legends Who Pursued Higher Education After Football | OneFootball

I’ve spent weekends watching Arsenal rise and fall, and the players impressed me because I believed they had everything to succeed.

Yet, over time, I noticed a different kind of ambition behind the pitch. These stories reminded me that life after football often demands more than muscle memory and discipline.

Athletes learn tactics and teamwork on the grass. In lecture halls, the lessons are different, often even more challenging. Some joke that an essay writing service can feel like the matchday partner when deadlines loom! But for other Gunners, an academic degree was a personal mission.

The four Arsenal alumni below deserve a chorus of applause for their university days. They proved that signing off from Arsenal doesn’t mean signing out of the scholarship.

Mathieu Flamini: From Midfielder to Molecules

His 2004 Arsenal debut dazzled with tireless runs and pinpoint passing. Mathieu racked up over 170 appearances before hanging up his boots, but that wasn’t the final whistle on his growth.

While still playing, Flamini enrolled at the Polytechnic University of Milan, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 2010.

He didn’t stop there. Armed with lab coats instead of training kits, he co-founded GF Biochemicals, a company pioneering sustainable levulinic acid production.

His knack for analysing midfield space translated well into scrutinising molecular structures. For Mathieu, chemistry wasn’t just a backup plan but a second career that helped shape greener industries.

Alex Scott: Broadcast Vision with a Scholarly Touch

You might know Alex as the composed full-back in Arsenal’s dominant women’s side between 2001 and 2015. Less celebrated but just as impressive was her decision to study Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting at Staffordshire University while still playing.

Scott balanced training camps with term papers. After graduating, she later received a doctorate from the University of Hertfordshire in 2021.

Today, she’s a household name on the BBC and Sky, analysing every pass and penalty with the precision of a seasoned academic.

Corinne Yorston: From Biochem to the Back Line

Before joining Arsenal’s women’s squad, Corinne Yorston studied at the University of Bath. She completed a BSc in Biochemistry, followed by an MSc, and is now pursuing an MPhil at Loughborough University.

Yorston credits her lab discipline for sharpening the same focus she displayed in midfield battles. Pipettes replaced shin pads, but the sense of discovery remained.

She has co-authored papers on enzymatic reactions and now mentors young scientists.

Gavin McGowan: The Classroom Coach

Gavin made just seven appearances for Arsenal between 1993 and 1998. Yet he never doubted his future.

After departing the club, he enrolled in a BA (Hons) in Physical Education at the University of Greenwich.

McGowan transitioned into education, teaching PE at a London school before becoming Head of Football at King’s College. He now serves as Director of Sport and Assistant Principal, shaping curricula and coaching strategies.

So there we have it. Four Arsenal legends who made the tricky switch from boots to books and never looked back.

They remind us that education isn’t only for the classroom elite, but it’s a field where anyone can succeed.

Are there any current Arsenal academy graduates who might follow in their footsteps and combine football with academic ambition?