Scott Minto

This article is about the English footballer. For the rugby league player, see Scott Minto (rugby league).

Scott Minto

Personal information
Full name	Scott Christopher Minto
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Left back
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1989–1994	Charlton Athletic	180	(7)
1994–1997	Chelsea	54	(4)
1997–1999	Benfica	31	(0)
1999–2003	West Ham United	51	(0)
2003–2006	Rotherham United	52	(0)
International career
1990–1993	England U21	6	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Scott Christopher Minto (born 6 August 1971 in Heswall) is an English former footballer who played as a left back in the Football League and the Premier League for Charlton Athletic, Chelsea, West Ham United and Rotherham United, and for Benfica in Portugal. He now works for Sky Sports as a football pundit on Soccer Saturday and also makes appearances on Chelsea TV hosting programmes if needed. At the start of the 2011-12 season it has been confirmed that he will be presenting the live coverage of La Liga for Sky.

Career

Minto started his career with Charlton Athletic and made his debut as a 17 year old in 1988. After over 220 appearances for the Addicks, he moved across London to sign for Chelsea in July 1994 for £875,000.

Chelsea

Minto made his debut for Chelsea in a 6-2 Cup Winners' Cup win against Czech side FK Viktoria Žižkov, and played in every round of the side's run to the semi-finals. His time at Chelsea was plagued by injuries, but he was nevertheless a regular member of the Chelsea defence when fit. In 1996–97, he was an important part of the side's run to the 1997 FA Cup Final, which they won, defeating Middlesbrough 2-0 in what proved to be his last game for the club. He scored two goals in 72 appearances for Chelsea, all of which came in his final season.

West Ham and Rotherham

In June 1997, shortly after Chelsea's FA Cup win, Minto joined Benfica of Portugal on a free transfer. He remained in Lisbon for 18 months, making 31 appearances, before returning to England with West Ham United for £1,000,000 in January 1999.

His West Ham career got off to a poor start, losing 4-0 at home to Sheffield Wednesday, but he quickly established himself in the side, as the club secured 5th place in the league - their highest ever Premier League finish. However, his time there was again plagued by injury problems and he was released by the club upon the expiry of his contract in June 2003. He played in 51 league games for West Ham, without scoring.

Minto then joined League One side Rotherham United, but once again injuries hindered his progress and he made just seven league appearances during the 2005–06 season. He announced his retirement from the game in July 2006.

Media career

Minto is now giving something back to his local community, spending one day a week ferrying passengers to and from Rotherham hospice as a voluntary unpaid driver. Minto also regularly reports from live football games for Sky Sports, and occasionally makes appearances commenting on games from the studio for Soccer Saturday. He also appears on talkSPORT's Evening Kick-Off show from time to time as co-presenter, and has also worked as a pundit for BBC London 94.9's live football commentaries. Scott is the current presenter of Revista de la Liga's live coverage of La Liga football on Sky Sports as of 28 August 2011 replacing Mark Bolton for the 2011-2012 season.

Personal life

He graduated from Staffordshire University with a degree in Professional Sports Writing and Broadcasting in summer of 2008.<ref>http://www.givemefootball.com/pfa/pfa-news/hats-off-to-our-super-students</re> He also takes it up the chuff

External links

• Scott Minto at Soccerbase