Jennifer Beattie


Jennifer Patricia Beattie is a Scottish footballer who plays for Arsenal of the FA WSL and the Scotland national team. Beattie is a tall, strong, right-footed player. Although typically a defender or midfielder, she is also an accomplished goalscorer. She is the daughter of former Scotland and British Lions rugby union player, John Beattie.

Early life

Beattie began playing football with her brother Johnnie and his friends, while at primary school. She was eventually selected to the Glasgow Primary School select team, as the only girl, and was named captain. Beattie then played with Hamilton Academical's boys' teams.

Club career

Queen's Park

Beattie began her senior career in the Scottish Women's Premier League with Queen's Park F.C. Ladies as a 15-year-old. She helped the club reach the final of the Scottish Women's Premier League Cup in November 2007; Queen's Park lost 4–0 to a Hibernian Ladies team containing Beattie's future Arsenal teammate Kim Little.

Celtic

In January 2008 Beattie moved to Celtic Ladies. She spent a year and a half with the club before leaving to join Arsenal Ladies.

Arsenal

Beattie joined Arsenal in July 2009; her first goals for Arsenal came on 8 November 2009 where she scored a stunning treble to seal a comeback against Chelsea after being 2–0 down at half-time. In March 2010, Beattie played in attack during Arsenal's 2–0 defeat by FCR 2001 Duisburg in the quarter-final of the UEFA Women's Champions League. While at Arsenal, she won the 2009 Women's Premier League, the 2011 and 2012 FA Women's League Cup, now called the Continental Cup, and the 2011 and 2013 FA Cups.

Montpellier

Beattie left Arsenal in July 2013 to join French Division 1 Féminine side Montpellier HSC on a two-year contract. While at Montpellier, she made 25 regular season appearances with the side, scoring 5 goals in the process.

Manchester City

Beattie returned to England with Manchester City Women for the 2015 season. In November 2018, she became the fifth player to reach 100 appearances for the club. She played a role in City's victories in the 2016 FA WSL, the 2016–17 and 2018–19 editions of the Women's FA Cup, and the 2018–19 FA Women's League Cup.

Melbourne City (loan)

Beattie joined Manchester City's sister club Melbourne City during Manchester City's offseason, before the 3rd round of the 2015–16 W-League season. While at Melbourne City, she helped the club during its double W-League and Grand Final wins, as well as their 100% record season.

Return to Arsenal

Beattie rejoined Arsenal in June 2019.

International career

Beattie represented Scotland at under-17 level, and made her debut for the under-19s at the age of 14.
Beattie made her debut for the senior Scotland side in March 2008, against the United States in Cyprus, as second-half substitute for Leanne Ross. She went on to establish herself in the national side during the 2009 European Championships qualifying campaign. She scored her first international goal as Scotland beat Portugal 4–1 in a European Championship qualifying game in May 2008. Beattie played in both legs of the qualifying play-off defeat to Russia in October and November 2008. After the first leg, Beattie and Kim Little were identified by football writer Graham Spiers as talented youngsters.
In March 2011, Beattie played as a striker and scored in Scotland's 2–0 win over England, the first time Scotland had beaten England since 1977. Beattie became a regular with the Scotland national team. While she was instrumental in helping Scotland reach its first major tournament, the 2017 UEFA Women's Euro Championship, she missed out on the tournament due to injury. She continued her contribution helping Scotland qualify for its first FIFA Women's World Cup, the 2019 tournament in France. On 15 May 2019 Beattie was named to the Scotland's 2019 Women's World Cup squad. At the finals, she scored in the 3–3 tie with Argentina.

Personal life

Beattie is the daughter of former Scotland and British Lions rugby union player, John Beattie and the sister of former Scottish rugby union international Johnnie Beattie. She attended Jordanhill School in Glasgow and on signing for Arsenal enrolled at Hertfordshire University.

International goals

#DateVenueOpponentResultCompetitionScored
13 May 2008Municipal Stadium, Póvoa de Varzim4–12009 UEFA Women's Championship qual.1
228 September 2008McDiarmid Park, Perth6–02009 UEFA Women's Championship qual.1
330 October 2008Spartak Stadium, Nalchik2–12009 UEFA Women's Championship play-off1
424 October 2009Yiannis Pathiakakis Stadium, Ano Liossia1–02011 FIFA Women's World Cup qual.1
527 March 2010Mikheil Meskhi Stadium, Tbilisi3–12011 FIFA Women's World Cup qual.1
619 June 2010Georgi Asparuhov Stadium, Sofia5–02011 FIFA Women's World Cup qual.1
721 August 2010Strathclyde Homes Stadium, Dumbarton4–12011 FIFA Women's World Cup qual.1
84 March 2011GSP Stadium, Nicosia2–02011 Cyprus Cup1
921 August 2011Falkirk Stadium, Falkirk5–0Friendly1
1021 September 2011Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh7–2Friendly2
1212 October 2011Ness Ziona Stadium, Ness Ziona6–12013 UEFA Women's Championship qual.1
1327 October 2011Tynecastle Stadium, Edinburgh2–22013 UEFA Women's Championship qual.1
145 February 2012Solitude, Belfast5–1Friendly4
1826 September 2013Fir Park, Motherwell7–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qual.1
1926 October 2013Fir Park, Motherwell2–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qual.1
207 March 2014GSP Stadium, Nicosia4–32014 Cyprus Cup1
2113 September 2014Fir Park, Motherwell9–02015 FIFA Women's World Cup qual.1
2229 November 2015St Mirren Park, Paisley10–02017 UEFA Women's Championship qual.1
2319 June 2019Parc des Princes, Paris3–32019 FIFA Women's World Cup1