Gareth Southgate Knighted in New Year Honors

Former England soccer manager Gareth Southgate has been knighted in the New Year Honors. He led England to two consecutive European Championship finals and the 2018 World Cup semifinals. Other notable honors include former Wales rugby union president Gerald Davies and multiple Olympic athletes.

Gareth Southgate, the former manager who revolutionized England's soccer fortunes, has received a knighthood in the New Year Honors list. Known for leading the team to two successive European Championship finals and the 2018 World Cup semifinals, Southgate is celebrated as the most successful English manager since Alf Ramsey.

The accolade adds him to an elite list of former England managers, including Ramsey, Walter Winterbottom, and Bobby Robson, all knighted for their services to the sport. Southgate, 54, stepped down after England's loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final last July.

Other highlights of the honors include accolades for Welsh rugby figure Gerald Davies, Paralympic champion Hannah Cockcroft, and Olympic gold medalist Keely Hodgkinson, showcasing the broad spectrum of British athletic excellence.

(With inputs from agencies.)