Gareth Southgate says he’s “extremely grateful” for being awarded a knighthood within the King’s New Yr Honours record however joked he wouldn’t be referred to as ‘Sir’ by his household.
The 54-year-old is the fourth England supervisor to be knighted, following Walter Winterbottom, World Cup winner Alf Ramsey, and Bobby Robson, who took the workforce to the 1990 World Cup semi-final.
Southgate led the Three Lions to their first main match ultimate since their World Cup win in 1966 at Euro 2020, shedding on penalties to Italy, earlier than taking them to their first showpiece match on overseas soil in Germany, although they had been crushed 2-1 by Spain.
He was in command of England for eight years, having taken the function following Sam Allardyce’s abrupt exit in 2016, and registered probably the most main match wins of any supervisor within the nationwide workforce’s historical past (14).
He additionally led England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the quarter-finals 4 years later in Qatar however was unable to finish the anticipate a significant trophy.
Southgate, who has hinted he might step away from soccer administration sooner or later, was delighted with the honour.
“I’m deeply grateful for all the sort messages and feedback I’ve obtained because the announcement of my knighthood,” he wrote on LinkedIn on Tuesday.
“It has been the best honour to symbolize my nation as each a participant and a supervisor for some 20 years and to be a part of the sport I really like for nearly 40. I’m extremely grateful for the superb individuals and groups who’ve supported me each on and off the sector.
Sir Gareth Southgate
Our former supervisor and participant has been awarded a Knighthood within the King’s New Yr Honours Checklist for 2025 for his providers to affiliation soccer pic.twitter.com/TsYcKYOusb
— England (@England) December 30, 2024
“A particular thanks to my household for his or her fixed love and encouragement, although I need to admit they’ve made it clear that the titles I maintain at dwelling will stay unchanged.”
Southgate’s ultimate match in cost noticed his aspect attain their first-ever ultimate on overseas soil, although their defeat to Spain additionally noticed England develop into the primary workforce in historical past to lose consecutive Euros finals, with the previous defender the one supervisor to ever lose two such matches.
Regardless of falling quick on the ultimate Euros in consecutive tournaments, the FA hailed Southgate as certainly one of England’s “best ever managers”.
“All through his profession within the sport as a participant, coach and change-maker, he has embodied the very best of English soccer,” FA chair Debbie Hewitt stated.
“One among our best ever managers, Sir Gareth’s outstanding teaching achievements throughout 4 main tournaments embody two successive Euro finals, equalling our best-ever males’s World Cup efficiency away from dwelling and being ranked on this planet’s high 5 for greater than 5 years.”