Gareth Southgate Grateful For Knighthood In King's New Year Honours List

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Gareth Southgate expressed immense gratitude for receiving a knighthood in the King's New Year Honours list. However, he humorously noted that his family would not address him as 'Sir.' At 54, Southgate is the fourth England manager to be knighted, joining Walter Winterbottom, Alf Ramsey, and Bobby Robson. His leadership saw England reach their first major tournament final since 1966 at Euro 2020.

Under Southgate's guidance, England reached the Euro 2020 final but lost to Italy on penalties. He also led the team to their first final on foreign soil in Germany, where they were defeated by Spain. Despite these setbacks, Southgate has achieved more major tournament wins than any other England manager, with 14 victories. His tenure began in 2016 after Sam Allardyce's sudden departure.

Southgate's career includes leading England to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and the quarter-finals in Qatar four years later. Although he did not secure a major trophy, his contributions have been significant. Reflecting on his career, Southgate hinted at possibly stepping away from football management in the future.

In a LinkedIn post on Tuesday, Southgate shared his appreciation for the messages and comments following his knighthood announcement. "It has been the greatest honour to represent my country as both a player and a manager for some 20 years," he wrote. He also acknowledged the support from amazing people and teams throughout his career.

Southgate extended special thanks to his family for their unwavering love and encouragement. He humorously admitted that despite his new title, his roles at home would remain unchanged. His last tournament as manager saw England reach their first-ever final abroad but ended with a loss to Spain.

The Football Association praised Southgate as one of England's finest managers despite consecutive Euros defeats. FA chair Debbie Hewitt stated that throughout his career as a player and coach, he embodied English football's best qualities. His achievements include two successive Euro finals and maintaining a top-five world ranking for over five years.

Southgate's legacy is marked by remarkable coaching accomplishments across four major tournaments. While he did not secure a major trophy during his tenure, his impact on English football remains profound and enduring.