Gareth Southgate has been knighted in the New Year's Honors List for his role in transforming the fortunes and culture of the England football team.
The 54-year-old led England to back-to-back European Championship runners-up and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals during his eight-year spell, but resigned after a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
Sir Gareth becomes the fourth former England manager to be knighted, following Sir Alf Ramsey, Sir Walter Winterbottom and Sir Bobby Robson.
The rest of the list is dominated by British stars who competed at the Paris 2024 Games, with 14 Olympic and 24 Paralympic athletes receiving awards.
Athletes honored include 800m gold medalist Keeley Hodgkinson, who is a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), as well as sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, who won silver in Paris, and heptathlete Katarina Johnson. = Includes Thompson.
Johnson-Thompson said: “I am deeply honored to have been included in the King's New Year Honors List for my contribution to athletics.” “My small contribution has been made possible because so many people have made significant contributions over the past 20 years to helping me pursue and achieve my dreams.”
Cyclist Tom Pidcock and swimmer Duncan Scott were promoted to Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), along with Helen Glover, who came out of retirement to win silver in the four women's rowing events.
Glover, 38, who was a gold medalist in London and Rio before having three children, said she was honored by the award.
“I was determined that this Olympic journey would lead to medal wins in front of my three children, and I felt supported by the parenting community,” she said. “We are very proud to be recognized for trying to make a difference in this area.”
Rowing gold medalists Laura Anderson, Georgie Brayshaw, Emily Craig, Imogen Grant, Lauren Henry and Hannah Scott also received MBEs, as well as cyclists Sophie Capewell, Emma Finucane and Katie Merchant, trampoline gold medalist Bryony Page and kite surfer were also awarded MBEs. Champion Ellie Aldridge.
Aldridge said: “It's been a really great year and I feel like this is the cherry on the cake. I didn't even go to university, let alone an MBE, and I don't think I'll ever get a letter after my name. I never thought of that.”
Nine-time Paralympic champion and OBE recipient Hannah Cockroft described this year as “the perfect end to an amazing year”. There was also a CBE in sports services for British Paralympic Association sports director Penny Briscoe, who led the team in Paris.
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The list also features sporting legends, including former Wales international and British & Irish Lions winger Gerald Davies, who has been recognized for his contributions to sport and charity work. He has been awarded a knighthood.
Davies, who won three Grand Slams for Wales during a 12-year international career, said: That surprised me. Words are really not enough to describe it. It comes suddenly. ”
There are also OBEs for former F1 driver Martin Brundle, for services to motor racing and sports broadcasting, and former West Ham manager David Moyes.
Former Liverpool defender and long-time BBC pundit Alan Hansen has been made an MBE for services to football and broadcasting.
Dawn Astle, who founded the Geoff Astle Foundation, which campaigns for more research into head injuries in football, on behalf of her father who died of dementia in 2002, has been made an MBE.
