Former England manager Gareth Southgate is set to be knighted in the 2025 New Year Honours, joining the elite ranks of Sir Walter Winterbottom, Sir Alf Ramsey, and Sir Bobby Robson as the fourth Three Lions boss to receive the prestigious accolade.
Southgate, 54, will be recognised for his transformative impact on English football during his eight-year tenure as the national team manager—a period widely regarded as one of the most successful in modern times.
According to The Sun, he will be honoured with the knighthood for services to sport in a ceremony expected to take place in early 2025.
GB News reported late Saturday that he was appointed in late 2016 under turbulent circumstances following Sam Allardyce’s resignation.
Despite inheriting a demoralised team, Southgate swiftly turned things around. After years of poor performance, his leadership brought English football back to life and gave its supporters a sense of pride.
Under his leadership, England had their best World Cup performance since 1990, making it to the semi-finals in Russia in 2018. The team made successive appearances in the European Championship finals and placed third in the first-ever UEFA Nations League in 2019.
England came painfully close to winning the Covid-delayed Euro 2020 final, but they lost to Italy in a thrilling penalty shootout.
Southgate’s career came to an end with a devastating 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final, but it solidified his reputation as one of England’s most successful managers.
Football benefits from Southgate’s contributions in ways that go beyond outcomes.
On and off the field, he is widely respected for his elegant manner and forward-thinking leadership.
In 2019, he received an OBE, and his knighthood will complete an incredible career.
“Gareth is a football legend who accomplished great things this year,” The Sun was informed by a source close to the Honours Committee. He repeatedly took the squad to the verge of victory, inspired a nation, and restored faith in the Three Lions.
With his knighthood, Southgate will be able to join some of the most recognisable football players in England.
His only predecessors to receive the distinction are Sir Bobby Robson, who guided the team to the 1990 World Cup semi-finals; Sir Walter Winterbottom, who was the inaugural manager of the national team; and Sir Alf Ramsey, who was instrumental in England’s World Cup victory in 1966.
Although Southgate’s pragmatic style of play and lost opportunities have been criticised by certain commentators, his wider influence cannot be denied. During his reign, a culture of discipline, togetherness, and hope was fostered, which changed England’s reputation abroad.
Although Southgate resigned this summer after losing out on another big title, his influence on the national team’s success will go down as revolutionary.
Southgate is ready to join the greats of English football, a fitting homage to a career devoted to the beautiful game, with letters verifying the Honours Committee’s choices already sent.
