Arise, Sir Gareth: Southgate given knighthood in new year honours list
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Gareth Southgate has been rewarded for transforming the fortunes and culture of the England football team with a knighthood in the new year honours list. The 54-year-old led England to consecutive European Championship runners-up finishes and the 2018 World Cup semi-finals during his eight years in charge, before stepping down after the 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final.
![[Katarina Johnson-Thompson won a silver medal in the women’s heptathlon in Paris – her first Olympic medal.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7e3fe72a8ac1f3fb2f9f9b879a442570026615c5/0_147_3701_2222/master/3701.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Sir Gareth becomes only the fourth former England manager to receive a knighthood, after Sir Alf Ramsey, Sir Walter Winterbottom and Sir Bobby Robson. Elsewhere the list is dominated by Britain’s successful stars from Paris 2024, with 14 Olympians and 24 Paralympians receiving awards.
![[Hannah Cockroft won two more Paralympic gold medals in Paris, to make it nine in total for the 32-year-old wheelchair racer.]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/e67bd7d3553557aa5d60de85b6e9231cda24a8dd/0_403_3700_2221/master/3700.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Those honoured include the 800m gold medallist Keely Hodgkinson, who becomes a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), along with the sprinter Dina Asher-Smith and the heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson, who both won silver in Paris. “I am deeply honoured to be recognised in the king’s new years honours list for services to athletics,” Johnson-Thompson said. “My small contribution has only been possible due to the huge contributions made by so many others in helping me to chase and achieve my dreams over the last 20 years.”.
The cyclist Tom Pidcock and the swimmer Duncan Scott are both upgraded to become Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), along with Helen Glover, who came out of retirement to win a rowing silver medal in the women’s four. The 38-year-old Glover, who was a gold medallist in London and Rio before having three children, said she was honoured with her award.
