Former England manger Gareth Southgate knighted for services for football
Former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate has received a knighthood for his services to football.
Southgate led England to consecutive European Championship finals in 2020 and 2024 and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals. He accepted the honour from the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.
He is the fourth England boss to be knighted, after Sir Walter Winterbottom, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson, and the only manager to lead the England men's team to two major tournament finals.
Southgate said that managing his country for eight years was 'an amazing privilege", but went on to admit he was 'not missing that either'.
His resignation came following England's 2-1 final defeat to Spain in July last year.
England midfielder Georgia Stanway believes Sarina Wiegman should be made an honorary dame if the Lionesses retain their Euros title in Switzerland next month.
Speaking exclusively to ITV News on the day Sir Gareth Southgate was knighted at Buckingham Palace, Stanway said the Dutch head coach had 'brought a lot of success to our country in football [terms], but also in creating national happiness".
She continued: "I feel like that definitely should be rewarded".
The Bayern Munich star added it was 'unfortunate' that more Euro 2022 winners hadn't been given honours after ending England's 58-year wait for a major trophy.
'I feel like everybody should have been rewarded for those moments', she said. 'Not only a few players. But maybe in the future to come, more and more will be recognised.'
Four Lionesses were named in the New Years honours list in 2022/23, after claiming silverware for a senior England side for the first time since 1966.
Captain Leah Williamson received an OBE, while teammates Lucy Bronze, Beth Mead and Ellen White were awarded MBEs.
Sarina Wiegman was also made an Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire, with the permission of the Dutch government.
England's head coach was previously in contention for an honorary damehood, had she won the World Cup in 2023, according to The Telegraph, but England lost in the final against Spain.Southgate was succeeded as England manager by Thomas Tuchel ahead of next year's World Cup, when it will be 60 years since the men's national side won their only major honour.
Under Southgate, England ended their 55-year wait for a men's final at Euro 2020 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 silverware.
Southgate 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 was recognised for his services to association football in the New Year Honours in December.
Asked how it felt to be knighted, Southgate said he was 'more emotional than I thought I might be'.
He also paid tribute to William, who is president of the FA, as an 'amazing supporter' of both England and his favourite club Aston Villa, whom Southgate played for during his 16-year career.
Southgate added: 'He's a genuine football fan and he was deeply passionate about the team doing well and how he might help as president of the FA and was I getting the right support when I needed it. So it was an immense backing to have.
'He kindly thanked me for what I'd done.'
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