Latest news with #knighthood
Daily Mail
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Sir David Beckham joins Mail Sport in calling for England's greatest World Cup captain Bobby Moore to be given honour he richly deserves
Sir David Beckham today leads the star names calling for 1966 World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore to be given a posthumous knighthood. Beckham, the most recent member of the football family to be knighted, insisted it was only right for Moore to be recognised for his amazing contribution to the game. 'Bobby led his England team to the height of sporting achievement when they won the World Cup,' he said. 'He was a giant of a man, an incredible leader and one of the finest players our country has produced. 'I am delighted to join so many other great names to support calls for his contribution to be recognised with a knighthood.' Sir Geoff Hurst, England's hat-trick hero from the final, who received a knighthood in 1998 for services to football, agreed it was only fair his late friend and former team-mate was properly recognised for his significant contribution to football and to charity. Ex-West Ham skipper Moore is considered one of the game's greatest defenders, commended for his 'immaculate' behaviour on and off the pitch. More than £30million has been raised for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK, set up by his widow, Stephanie, after his death from the disease in 1993 aged just 51, generating vital funds and increasing public awareness. Now star names have backed a petition calling on the Government to find a way of posthumously marking Moore's significant achievements — amid claims he was 'let down by the authorities' at the time. Sir Geoff told Mail Sport: 'If any of the two of us deserved a knighthood it would be the captain of the team. Yes, I scored the goals, but the captain of the great sides is always the significant figure. 'You could argue he should get two knighthoods, one for football and one for his phenomenal charity efforts. I can't think of anybody more deserving of a knighthood in football than Mooro.' Sir Geoff added: 'The treatment he received at the end of his career by the hierarchy was abysmal. He should have been looked after, put in a senior role within English football.' Former Manchester United and England skipper Bryan Robson said it was 'wrong' Moore never received a knighthood. 'Bobby never got the recognition he deserved for being the captain of the team that won the World Cup,' he added. 'Other players got a knighthood but I always thought Bobby deserved one. He was a gentleman and I'm all for supporting this campaign.' Former England midfielder Frank Lampard said: 'I grew up with the stories of the great Bobby Moore being immaculate as a player and person. He and the '66 boys were a huge inspiration to me.' And former manager Harry Redknapp, who played alongside Moore at the Hammers, said: 'He was a fantastic role model, a true gentleman and most of all the greatest ever England captain. He was a special person and a great pal. It is an injustice he has not been honoured with a knighthood which he truly deserved.' The campaign has also been backed by huge names from outside of football. Mail Sport's Sir Clive Woodward, who managed England's 2003 Rugby World Cup win, said: 'He (Moore) served as the example of what I expected from my captains. That he was never knighted is one of the most egregious oversights. 'It is long overdue time to right that wrong for a gentleman who was class on and off the pitch.' Former Football Focus host Dan Walker added: 'There is a reason "Sir Bobby" rolls off the tongue and that's because the vast majority of people think he is one already or believe he should be. 'The lack of a knighthood might be a glaring anomaly but the good news is it's really easy to remedy. Arise Sir Bobby.' Rules dictate knighthood nominations must be scrutinised by the Honours Committee before recommendations are made to the Prime Minister, who then advises the Monarch. Knighthoods die with the recipient and cannot be granted posthumously. However, author Martin Amis received a backdated award shortly after his death as the wheels were already in motion to grant him an honour before he died. It has prompted calls for the creation of a unique honour or equivalent award to recognise Moore. Graham Nickless, spokesman for the Honour Bobby Moore campaign, who helped set up the petition, said: 'Having watched Bobby lead England to World Cup victory on a black-and-white telly in 1966, I am extremely proud to be playing a small part in trying to get our captain the highest honour this country can give him — and about time, too. 'I believe this is the last chance we will have to right a wrong and I am confident the British public will want to support a petition that will strike home a powerful message to the FA hierarchy and parliamentarians alike.' London-born Moore made his Three Lions debut in 1962 and was capped 108 times during an 11-year international career. He played much of his club football at West Ham before signing for Fulham. He captained the Hammers to the 1964 FA Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup the following year. Moore was known for wearing the No6 jersey, and received an OBE in 1967.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Make Bobby Moore a Knight! Football icons unite in campaign to honour former England captain with posthumous knighthood
Sir Geoff Hurst leads the star names calling for 1966 World Cup captain Bobby Moore to be given a posthumous knighthood. Hat-trick hero Sir Geoff, who received a knighthood in 1998 for services to football, said it was only fair that his late friend and former teammate was properly recognised for his significant contribution to the sport and to charity. Former West Ham skipper Moore is widely considered one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game, commended for his 'immaculate' behaviour on and off the pitch. More than £30million has been raised for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK set up by his widow Stephanie after his death from the disease in 1993 aged just 51, generating vital cash for bowel cancer research and increasing public awareness. Now star names from football, sport and entertainment have backed a petition calling on the Government to find a way of posthumously marking Moore's significant achievements – amid claims he was 'let down by the authorities' at the time. Sir Geoff, the first man to score three goals in the World Cup final as England defeated West Germany 4-2 at Wembley, told the Daily Mail: 'If any of the two of us deserved a knighthood it would be the captain of the team. 'Yes, I scored the goals, but I would argue that the captain of the great sides is always the significant figure. 'And forget about the football for one second, you could argue he should get two knighthoods, one for football and for his phenomenal charity efforts. 'I can't think of anybody more deserving of a knighthood in football. I can't pick anybody more deserving of recognition than Mooro.' Sir Geoff added: 'The treatment he received at the end of his career by the hierarchy and his lack of recognition was nothing short of abysmal. 'He should have been looked after, put in a senior role within English football.' Former Manchester United skipper Bryan Robson, who also captained England during the 1980s, said it was 'wrong' that Moore never received a knighthood. 'Bobby never got the recognition he deserved for being the captain of the England team that won the World Cup,' he said. 'A few other players got a Knighthood but I always thought Bobby deserved one. 'Bobby was a gentleman and I am all for supporting this campaign.' Ex-England midfielder Frank Lampard, who starred for Chelsea, West Ham and Manchester City during the Premier League era, added: 'I grew up with the stories of the great Bobby Moore being immaculate as a player and a person, England's greatest ever captain, he and the '66 boys were a huge inspiration to me and every England player that has worn the shirt since.' And former manager Harry Redknapp, who played alongside Moore at the Hammers, said: 'He was a fantastic role model, a true gentleman and most of all the greatest ever England captain. 'He was a special person and a great pal. It is an injustice that he had not been honoured with a knighthood which he truly deserved.' The campaign has also been backed by huge names from outside of football. Sir Clive Woodward, who managed England's 2003 Rugby World Cup win, said: 'He (Moore) served as the example of all I expected of captains of all the teams I have been involved with. 'That he was never knighted is one of the most egregious oversights in any sport. 'It is long overdue time to right that wrong for a gentleman who was absolute class on and off the pitch.' Broadcaster and former BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker added: 'There is a reason "Sir Bobby Moore" rolls off the tongue and that's because the vast majority of people think that he is one already or firmly believe that he should be. 'The lack of a knighthood might be a glaring anomaly but the good news is, it's really easy to remedy. Arise Sir Bobby.' Current rules dictate knighthood nominations must be scrutinised by the Honours Committee before recommendations are made to the Prime Minister, who then advises the Monarch. Knighthoods die with the recipient and cannot be granted posthumously. However, there is some precedent with author Martin Amis receiving a backdated award shortly after his death as the wheels were already in motion to grant him an honour before he died. It has prompted calls for the creation of a unique honour or equivalent award to recognise Moore. Graham Nickless, spokesman for the Honour Bobby Moore campaign, who helped set up the petition, said: 'Having watched Bobby Moore lead England to World Cup victory on a black and white telly in 1966 I am extremely proud to be playing a small part, nearly 60 years later, in trying to get our captain the highest honour this country can give him - and about time too. 'I honestly believe this is the last chance we will have to right a wrong and I am confident that the British public will want to support a petition that will strike home a powerful message to the FA hierarchy and parliamentarians alike.' Moore made his Three Lions debut in 1962 and was capped 108 times during an 11-year international career. The London-born defender played much of his club football at West Ham, where he made more than 500 league appearances between 1958 and 1974, before signing for Fulham. He captained the Hammers to the 1964 FA Cup and the Cup Winners' Cup the following year. Moore was known for wearing the number six jersey, and received an OBE in 1967.
Forbes
3 days ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Gareth Southgate Accidentally Reveals Why His Team Were Never Winners
Former England's national football team head coach Gareth Southgate poses with his medal after being ... More appointed as a Knight Bachelor (Knighthood) during an Investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, on June 25, 2025. (Photo by James Manning / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JAMES MANNING/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) POOL/AFP via Getty Images After being handed the greatest honor available to a regular British citizen, former England coach Sir Gareth Southgate was asked about his next job in soccer. Looking slightly taken aback to face a question more commonly reserved for a sporting rather than royal event, he paused thoughtfully before offering an answer. 'I'm excited about the future. Obviously, I've had 37 years in football, so it's a long time and I've enjoyed taking a step back and being involved in other things,' he said after being knighted by the King of England. Since leaving the biggest role in the country, the South Londoner has focused his energies far from the soccer field, working on projects that support young men and raising awareness of the importance of role models. Part of this distance, he revealed, was deliberate. He didn't want to loom over the team he'd so recently left. 'I think it's important that I am on that sofa and out of their way, you know. It's theirs to take on now, and I think it's important that I give the team as much space as possible,' he added. The journalists outside Winsor Castle pressed him on whether he missed parts of the job, and Southgate's answer was surprising. 'It is a little bit strange [watching the team] but also I'm not missing it,' Southgate told the BBC. 'I think it's hard to describe because until that weight's gone, you don't necessarily realize just on a day-to-day basis, you know, every hour of my day was thinking about how do I make England better, what's happening with the players, how do we do things differently,' he added. 'So I think [that like] any leader of big organizations, you're constantly thinking about how to do your job as well as you can.' Many managers at the top of the game have spoken about the toll the job brings. Modern greats like Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have discussed how energy can be drained. As a consequence, both coaches have taken sabbaticals at different stages of their careers. Although, to be honest, Southgate doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath; he's not of the same caliber. In statistical terms, he's been a success as England manager. But his sides have only inspired excitement by progressing in tournaments. The turgid manner in which his achievements were achieved made the ride underwhelming throughout, and this is why he repeatedly came unstuck in crucial moments against braver, smarter teams. More than a Manager DORTMUND, GERMANY - JULY 10: England head coach Gareth Southgate celebrates 2-1 victory after the ... More UEFA EURO 2024 semi-final match between Netherlands and England at Football Stadium Dortmund on July 10, 2024 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by) Getty Images The lack of identity dogging his team was referenced by his replacement, Thomas Tuchel, after taking charge. His assessment of their Euro 2024 run to the final was withering. England 'were more afraid to drop out,' he felt, 'than having the excitement and hunger to win it.' Southgate isn't one for a confrontation and certainly wasn't going to taint his big day by exchanging barbs with his replacement. When asked to comment on the German's assessment, he said: 'I don't think it's important how I took it [Tuchel's criticism] or what I think,' Southgate said. 'I think what's important is for me to give the team, the manager, the space to operate. I think that's the right thing to do. 'I've had an amazing experience leading my country, but it's time for them to take it forward now, and I'll be a fan at home supporting it.' The reason for Southgate's knighthood goes beyond anything that happened on the field, however. His cherished national status has been achieved because he succeeded in presenting a version of inspirational English pride to the world in a manner no coach has really managed since Sir Bobby Robson in 1990. His dignified leadership often went beyond soccer, and he will be remembered for that. The BBC's article reflecting on his knighthood explained: 'Southgate 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. It added: '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 charge. 'He 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 home. 'Southgate established himself as a mature, measured and civilized leader, who had a hinterland that stretched beyond football, proving priceless in moments when diplomacy was required.' Those soft skills meant he succeeded in the ambassadorial capacity that few English managers have. But it may also be the reason he never won that elusive trophy. The lack of hunger to get back into the game and show what he can do now suggests what we always suspected: he was lacking that killer edge to get over the line.
BBC News
3 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.
Sky News
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sky News
Former England boss Gareth Southgate receives knighthood
Former England manager Gareth Southgate has described receiving a knighthood for his services to football as an "amazing honour". Sir Gareth, who led the Three Lions to consecutive European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024 and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, accepted the gong from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. He becomes only the fourth England boss to be knighted, after Sir Walter Winterbottom, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson. Asked how it felt to be knighted, Sir Gareth said he was "more emotional than I thought I might be" and the occasion was an "amazing honour". He said managing his country for eight years was "an amazing privilege" but admitted he was "not missing that either". The 54-year-old, who is the only manager of the England men's team to reach two major finals, resigned from the role following a 2-1 Euro final defeat to Spain in July last year. 'We've broken down so many barriers' Reflecting on his spell in charge, Sir Gareth said: "We've broken down so many barriers to winning. "Ultimately, we didn't quite get to where we wanted to, but we're in a great position now to take things forward." Sir Gareth was succeeded as manager by Thomas Tuchel ahead of next year's World Cup, when it will be 60 years since Sir Alf Ramsey's side won the trophy in what is still the England men's team's only major honour. Asked how he assessed the squad's chances heading into the tournament, Sir Gareth said: "What I learned doing the job is it's important that people on the outside respect the space inside, so best that I stay out of the way and let them get on with it." Under Sir Gareth, England 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 saw the side again miss out on silverware. Sir Gareth, who was recognised for his services to football in the New Year Honours in December, took charge of 102 England matches in total to add to the 57 caps he won for the national team as a player between 1995 and 2004. He also paid tribute to Prince William, who is president of the FA, describing him as a "genuine football fan" and an "amazing supporter" of both England and Aston Villa, who Sir Gareth played for during his 16-year career.
