Knighthood Former head coach of England, Gareth Southgate, made it to the New Year Honors List, where he was awarded a knighthood.
The former England senior team head coach stepped down from his role as a manager in July after helping England to the final of Euro 2024.
England lost their Euro 2024 final to Spain during their second straight European final under Southgate, who also helped the team to the World Cup semi-final in 2018 while he was the country’s head coach.
Southgate managed the England senior team for eight years; he is the fourth among England’s coaches to be knighted after Sir Walter Winterbottom, Sir Alf Ramsey, and Sir Bobby Robson.
Debbie Hewitt, FA chair, mentioned that the former manager, Southgate, had “embodied the best of English football.”
“He brought our fans closer than ever to the team, stood up for what he believed in, and inspired players to share his pride in representing England,” she said.
“It has been a privilege to know the man and the manager. All of us who have experienced his thoughtfulness, dedication, and leadership are delighted with this wonderful news.”
One of those that will receive the knighthood is the former president of the Welsh Rugby Union, Gerald Davies.
Gerald Davies was also an ex-wife winger who played for Wales and the British & Irish Lions.
He became the president of the Welsh Rugby Union in 2019 and served for four years until 2023. He has been credited for his efforts to the sport and to voluntary and charitable service in Wales.
“I feel very emotional about it. I am surprised by it. Words are really quite inadequate to describe it,” Davies told reporters.
“It comes out of the blue. I was dumbstruck in many ways, but you don’t achieve these things on your own.”