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BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Sir Gareth joins the greats as football's seventh knighted manager
Gareth Southgate added his name to an elite footballing list when the former England manager received his knighthood at Windsor Castle on 54-year-old, who stepped down from the England post after almost eight years following defeat to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, was awarded the honour for services to influence, however, stretched beyond the field of play as he became one of football's most respected is only the seventh football manager to be given the joins the list of knights that also includes:England's World Cup-winning manager Sir Alf RamseyManchester United legends Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex FergusonEngland, Barcelona, Newcastle and Ipswich great Sir Bobby RobsonLiverpool legend and Premier League-winning manager with Blackburn, Sir Kenny DalglishSir Walter Winterbottom, England's first international manager, who led his country from 1946 to 1962So what are the reflections now on Southgate's England tenure, and why has he been selected for the knighthood honour? You can let us know your thoughts in the comments section. A nearly manager of a nearly team? On the list of football manager knights, only Winterbottom and Southgate have not won a trophy in their managerial fell short of being the winner England and the Football Association wanted as they tried to end a barren sequence for the men's senior team stretching back to the 1966 World Cup along the way, Southgate did much to restore the image of his squad and the lost successive European Championship finals, to Spain in 2024 and to Italy at Wembley in were also beaten in a World Cup semi-final by Croatia in Moscow in 2018, meaning Southgate's reign will ultimately be judged as that of a nearly manager of a nearly may be regarded as a harsh judgement, but reality shows that Southgate could not overcome the obstacles to that elusive England success with a richly talented squad, as well as in circumstances that favoured them, such as against Italy in a home can be built on the finest of margins, and this was Southgate' the wider context, however, that record stands comparison to – and indeed improves upon – that of any of his predecessors following Sir Alf's World Cup knighthood accolade is reward for the exemplary manner in which he served England and the Football Association on so many levels: as a distinguished full international, coach of the under-21s, then as senior team manager when he succeeded Sam Allardyce, who left after one game, in late inherited chaos and almost turned it into measured in honours, Southgate's career may not be able to stand alongside those other names who claimed the game's biggest prizes - as a player he won the League Cup with Aston Villa in 1996 and again when he captained Middlesbrough in 2004 - but his significance and influence in the recent era is unquestionable. 'The perfect ambassador for England' Southgate not only placed England back on what had become unfamiliar territory by leading them to the latter stages of showpiece tournaments, but he also lightened the load of a shirt that was too heavy for so many before he took made players relish playing for England again, making a somewhat unloved national team popular once more, with the peak of that feelgood factor coming between the 2018 World Cup in Russia and the delayed Euro 2020 tournament, which was largely played at established himself as a mature, measured and civilised leader, who had a hinterland that stretched beyond football, proving priceless in moments when diplomacy was meant Southgate was comfortable tacking thorny issues that arose during his tenure, such as racism. He stepped forward on a night of shame in Sofia in October 2019, when a Euro 2020 qualifier against Bulgaria, which England won 6-0, was stopped twice after Tyrone Mings and Raheem Sterling were the targets of racist dealt with a hostile Bulgarian inquisition, making his point forcibly but always with the caution that England had problems of its own in this regard and should never believe it was something that only existed also accepted the LGBTQI+ community would feel "let down" when England backtracked on wearing the 'OneLove' armband at the Qatar World Cup after they were warned captain Harry Kane would receive a yellow card should he do was not just England's manager, he was the perfect ambassador for the FA when the game's waves spread beyond what happened on the pitch. Southgate 'made players and supporters dream again' On the pitch, Southgate's legacy will always be those agonising near misses, with the finger being pointed in his direction for conservative tactics, especially when early leads and domination ended with defeat to Croatia in the World Cup last four, as well as that defeat on penalties to Italy at someone so often portrayed as "too nice" – something mistaken for his basic decency – Southgate showed steel as a player and again as a before he was appointed as the permanent manager, caretaker boss Southgate effectively signalled the end for Wayne Rooney's England career by dropping the captain and record goalscorer for a World Cup qualifier in Slovenia before he was eased time with England ended after the 2022 World Cup, while Jack Grealish was cut from the Euro 2024 relationship with England's supporters fluctuated, from the adulation between 2018 and 2021 to the toxicity of a night at Molineux in June 2022 when the personal abuse was such that it had a profound impact on the Euro 2024 campaign, a somewhat joyless and mediocre affair in which much of the goodwill for Southgate had been diluted, also saw the manager pelted with empty beer cups and jeered by fans after a goalless draw with Slovenia in was poor payback for what Southgate had given those England fans, only adding to the sense that this was an era drawing to a close, and perhaps the manager would not be sorry to see the back of flickered fitfully in Germany, reaching the final which ended in the familiar pain of defeat at Spain deservedly won was a disappointing conclusion, making for a natural end to his time as England manager in which Southgate had made players and supporters dream the short-term disappointment eased, it was right that Southgate should be judged with total respect, and befitting of his reign that he should have his investiture moment.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Gareth Southgate to receive knighthood at Windsor Castle
Former England manager Gareth Southgate will be among those accepting honours on Wednesday as he receives a knighthood at Windsor Castle. The 54-year-old, who led the Three Lions to consecutive European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024 and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, was recognised for his services to association football in the New Year Honours. He is the fourth England boss to be knighted, after Sir Walter Winterbottom, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson. Sir Gareth resigned from the role after eight years in charge following England's 2-1 final defeat to Spain in July last year, before being succeeded by Thomas Tuchel. In a social media post following the announcement in December, he joked that he was unlikely to be called 'Sir' by his family. 'It has been the greatest honour to represent my country as both a player and a manager for some 20 years and to be part of the game I love for almost 40. I am incredibly thankful for the amazing people and teams who have supported me both on and off the field,' he said. 'A special thank you to my family for their constant love and encouragement, though I must admit they've made it clear that the titles I hold at home will remain unchanged.' Sir Gareth won 57 caps for England as a player between 1995 and 2004 and played at three major tournaments, including the 1998 World Cup. He also had a distinguished 16-year career at club level, operating mainly as a defender for Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough and making more than 600 appearances. Sir Gareth first joined the Football Association as head of elite development in February 2011 after being sacked as Middlesbrough manager, and went on to coach the under-21s side before his appointment as England manager, initially on a temporary basis, in September 2016. England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, when Sir Gareth turned the waistcoat into a must-have fashion accessory. The team then ended its 55-year wait for a men's final at Euro 2020, delayed 12 months by Covid, before being agonisingly beaten on penalties by Italy at Wembley. A late defeat to Spain three years later again saw the side just miss out on national silverware. Overall, Sir Gareth took charge of 102 matches and is the only manager of the England men's team to lead them to two major tournament finals. Giving an address at the University of London in March, he spoke about how the belief and resilience gained throughout his career in football had 'picked me up when I've been down, grounded me in success, and given me purpose amidst the noise of public life'. Sir Gareth was previously made an OBE for his services to football in the 2019 New Year Honours. British and Irish Lions wing Gerald Davies is also set to be knighted at the investiture ceremony for his services to rugby union and to voluntary and charitable service in Wales. Davies, 80, played for Wales for 12 years in the 1960s and 1970s and won three Grand Slams, and went on to serve as president of the Welsh Rugby Union between 2019 and 2023. Reacting to the honour, he told the PA news agency: 'I feel very emotional about it. I am surprised by it. Words are really quite inadequate to describe it. 'It comes out of the blue. I was dumbstruck in many ways, but you don't achieve these things on your own.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Gareth Southgate to receive knighthood at Windsor Castle
Former England manager Gareth Southgate will be among those accepting honours on Wednesday as he receives a knighthood at Windsor Castle. The 54-year-old, who led the Three Lions to consecutive European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024 and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, was recognised for his services to association football in the New Year Honours. He is the fourth England boss to be knighted, after Sir Walter Winterbottom, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson. Sir Gareth resigned from the role after eight years in charge following England's 2-1 final defeat to Spain in July last year, before being succeeded by Thomas Tuchel. In a social media post following the announcement in December, he joked that he was unlikely to be called 'Sir' by his family. 'It has been the greatest honour to represent my country as both a player and a manager for some 20 years and to be part of the game I love for almost 40. I am incredibly thankful for the amazing people and teams who have supported me both on and off the field,' he said. 'A special thank you to my family for their constant love and encouragement, though I must admit they've made it clear that the titles I hold at home will remain unchanged.' Sir Gareth won 57 caps for England as a player between 1995 and 2004 and played at three major tournaments, including the 1998 World Cup. He also had a distinguished 16-year career at club level, operating mainly as a defender for Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Middlesbrough and making more than 600 appearances. Sir Gareth first joined the Football Association as head of elite development in February 2011 after being sacked as Middlesbrough manager, and went on to coach the under-21s side before his appointment as England manager, initially on a temporary basis, in September 2016. England reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup, when Sir Gareth turned the waistcoat into a must-have fashion accessory. The team then ended its 55-year wait for a men's final at Euro 2020, delayed 12 months by Covid, before being agonisingly beaten on penalties by Italy at Wembley. A late defeat to Spain three years later again saw the side just miss out on national silverware. Overall, Sir Gareth took charge of 102 matches and is the only manager of the England men's team to lead them to two major tournament finals. Giving an address at the University of London in March, he spoke about how the belief and resilience gained throughout his career in football had 'picked me up when I've been down, grounded me in success, and given me purpose amidst the noise of public life'. Sir Gareth was previously made an OBE for his services to football in the 2019 New Year Honours. British and Irish Lions wing Gerald Davies is also set to be knighted at the investiture ceremony for his services to rugby union and to voluntary and charitable service in Wales. Davies, 80, played for Wales for 12 years in the 1960s and 1970s and won three Grand Slams, and went on to serve as president of the Welsh Rugby Union between 2019 and 2023. Reacting to the honour, he told the PA news agency: 'I feel very emotional about it. I am surprised by it. Words are really quite inadequate to describe it. 'It comes out of the blue. I was dumbstruck in many ways, but you don't achieve these things on your own.'
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Eddie Howe's Freedom of Newcastle confirmed
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe's freedom of the city status has been confirmed by Magpies boss was nominated following the club's Carabao Cup win in March - the side's first major trophy in have now voted to approve the motion to give him the highest civic honour the city can has previously been awarded to other leading figures in Newcastle's football history including Sir Bobby Robson, Alan Shearer and Jackie Milburn. Howe was put forward by council leader Karen Kilgour after the club's 2-1 win against after his status was confirmed, she said he would be "forever be a hero to Newcastle United supporters for his achievements during his time at the club".She added: "That special day at Wembley gifted Geordies something they hadn't seen in 70 years – domestic trophy success."For a city that lives and breathes sport, with a football club around which so many lives revolve, the wait to see black and white shirts lift a trophy at the home of football had long felt it would go on forever."Hundreds of thousands of fans lined the streets of Newcastle when the trophy was taken through the city centre on 29 March in an open-top bus parade.A further celebration event was staged on the Town Moor, hosted by Geordie TV presenting duo Ant and club went on to secure qualification for next season's Champions League on the final day of this season despite a 1-0 loss at home to Everton. Kilgour added Howe was "a fantastic ambassador" for the city and described him as "passionate yet calm, inspiring and polite".The council said it would work with the club to arrange a celebration to present Howe with his status is ceremonial and sees recipients presented with a scroll and their name carved into the sandstone wall of the Civic Centre's Banqueting is not the same as being a hereditary Freeman of Newcastle, a centuries-old group whose members must swear an oath to defend the city and have traditionally had special rights and duties – including the right to graze cattle on the Town Moor. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
