Gareth Southgate Knighted for Services to Football

Gareth Southgate, the former England manager has received a knighthood in the New Year Honours list for his services to football. The 54-year-old, who stepped down in July after leading England to the Euro 2024 final, became the fourth England manager to receive this honor, following Sir Walter Winterbottom, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson. FA chair Debbie Hewitt praised Gareth Southgate for embodying the best of English football and inspiring both fans and players.

Gerald Davies, the former Wales winger and president of the Welsh Rugby Union also earned a knighthood for his contributions to rugby and voluntary services. He expressed surprise at the recognition, acknowledging the support of others in his achievements. Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024, received an MBE alongside several Paralympians including Hannah Cockroft, who earned a CBE for her impressive career.

Other notable athletes awarded OBEs include Olympic medallists Helen Glover, Tom Pidcock and Duncan Scott, and Paralympians such as Tully Kearney, Sammi Kinghorn and Lauren Rowles. Other football-related honorees include former West Ham manager David Moyes, who received an OBE for his services to football and Northern Ireland midfielder Marissa Callaghan, who received an MBE. Dawn Astle, founder of the Jeff Astle Foundation also earned an MBE for her work supporting footballers with dementia.

In the world of sport, former Liverpool and Scotland defender Alan Hansen, who transitioned to broadcasting, received an MBE, as did Anita White, former England hockey captain and founder of Women in Sport. The list also recognized numerous figures in sports leadership including Rowenna Fyfield and Penny Briscoe for their contributions to sports governance and broadcasting.