Gareth Southgate has been honored with a knighthood in the New Year Honours list for his transformative impact on the England football team. Over his eight years as manager, Southgate led the national team to impressive achievements, including back-to-back European Championship runners-up finishes and a semi-final appearance at the 2018 World Cup. His tenure ended following a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final. Southgate joins a distinguished group of former England managers who have been knighted, including Sir Alf Ramsey, Sir Walter Winterbottom, and Sir Bobby Robson.
The New Year Honours list also celebrates Britain’s sports stars, particularly those from the Paris 2024 Olympics. Among the honorees is Keely Hodgkinson, who received an MBE after winning gold in the 800m. Other notable recipients include sprinter Dina Asher-Smith and heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, both of whom earned silver medals in Paris. Johnson-Thompson expressed her gratitude for the recognition, acknowledging the support she had received from others in her pursuit of athletic excellence.
Cyclist Tom Pidcock and swimmer Duncan Scott were both upgraded to Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), as was Helen Glover, who made a successful return to rowing and secured a silver medal in the women’s four. Glover, a gold medallist in London and Rio, was particularly proud of her achievement, which she attributed to the support of the parenting community.
Rowing gold medallists Lola Anderson, Georgie Brayshaw, Emily Craig, Imogen Grant, Lauren Henry, and Hannah Scott were also awarded MBEs, alongside cyclists Sophie Capewell, Emma Finucane, and Katy Marchant, trampoline gold medallist Bryony Page, and kite-surfing champion Ellie Aldridge. Aldridge, who never expected to receive such an honor, expressed her joy at the recognition, calling it the “cherry on the cake” of an incredible year.
Paralympian Hannah Cockroft, who added two more gold medals to her collection in Paris, was awarded an OBE, bringing her total Paralympic golds to nine. Penny Briscoe, the director of sport at the British Paralympic Association, received a CBE for her leadership of the team in Paris.
The list also honors several sporting legends. Gerald Davies, a former Wales and British & Irish Lions wing, was knighted for his contributions to sport and charity work. Davies, who won three Grand Slams with Wales during his 12-year international career, expressed his surprise and emotion at the recognition.
Other notable figures include former Formula One driver Martin Brundle, who was awarded an OBE for his contributions to motor racing and sports broadcasting, and former West Ham manager David Moyes, who also received an OBE. Alan Hansen, the former Liverpool defender and long-time BBC pundit, was made an MBE for his services to football and broadcasting.
Dawn Astle, who founded the Jeff Astle Foundation to raise awareness about head injuries in football following her father’s death from dementia, was also honored with an MBE. This recognition reflects the ongoing efforts to improve the understanding and prevention of brain injuries in the sport.
Overall, the New Year Honours list highlights the outstanding achievements of British sportspeople and figures who have made significant contributions to their respective fields.
