After a decade of playing football across continents, City captain Rebekah Stott has finally found something rare in a professional footballer’s life: stability.
“I haven’t been settled since I was 17 or 18,” Stott told Talking Bullship, the official podcast of Melbourne City. “To have a home now – to not have to live out of a suitcase, to buy things without wondering how I’ll pack them later – it’s so nice.”
Since arriving at Melbourne City in the Club’s inaugural 2015/16 season, Stott has been a constant, guiding presence both on the pitch and in the changerooms. While her career has included stints in England, Germany, Norway and the US, she’s truly built a legacy in Melbourne.
City legend, Rebekah Stott, has inked a new two-year contract extension. Read more here.
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It’s been a journey marked by resilience, quiet leadership, and a drive to set new standards. Now 32, she’s embracing the role of mentor to a young and talented squad.
“I don’t necessarily pull players aside and tell them what they should do,” she said. “But I’ll get around them in training. If someone like Shelby [McMahon] does something brilliant, I’ll let her know – ‘Yes, Shelby, that’s unbelievable.’ She’s got so much potential. She doesn’t need much help – just that bit of guidance in the small details.”
That philosophy of empowering the next generation extends beyond McMahon. Speaking on the quality of City’s squad, she also acknowledged the technical ability of Leticia McKenna as a player to watch.
“She’s got that spark. You watch Teesh play and you just think, she’s got it. Whatever ‘it’ is, she’s got it.”
Despite being one of the most experienced players in the A-League Women’s competition, Stott is still evolving and developing her understanding of the game. She’s already completed her UEFA B coaching licence and has her eyes on eventually stepping into a coaching role post-retirement.
“I want to get more experience before I go for my [UEFA] A Licence,” she said. “I want to actually be coaching, be in it, not just ticking boxes. Coaching at club level appeals more to me than international – I like being in the thick of it, hands-on, day to day.”
That same grounded approach showed when reflecting on City’s heartbreak in the AFC Women’s Champions League Final.
“We were exhausted – it was a long season, and we went straight into that tournament. To get that close and not get it… it was brutal,” she admitted. “But we’ll learn from it, you’ve got to. That’s football – it can be crazy and cruel, but you keep going.”
And going she is. Even in the offseason, Stott is staying active, albeit with a lighter touch.
“I bought myself a tennis racket for my birthday,” she laughed. “It’s my new offseason hobby. I’m going to play a bit of tennis, chill out, and not think about football – at least for a little while.”
Fresh off signing a new two-year deal, the most decorated player in Club history is far from finished and she’s hungry to bring even more silverware to City.
To hear more on Stott’s playing journey, future ambitions, and who’s been trying to steal jerseys from her trophy cabinet, listen to her full Talking Bullship episode now – available wherever you get your podcasts.
