Southgate won’t be ‘Sir’ at home after knighthood

LONDON: Gareth Southgate joked he won´t be called ´Sir´ by his family after the former England manager was given a knighthood in the New Year Honours.

Southgate is only the fourth England boss to become a knight after Walter Winterbottom, 1966 World Cup winning coach Alf Ramsey and Bobby Robson. The 54-year-old was recognised for his services to football after leading England to a pair of runners-up finishes in the 2021 and 2024 European Championships.

He also took England to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals and the quarter-finals of the 2022 edition, although he was unable to end the country´s wait for a first major trophy since 1966. Southgate, who has hinted he might not return to management, admitted he would not get special treatment at home despite his new status as a ´Sir´.

“I´m deeply grateful for all the kind messages and comments I´ve received since the announcement of my knighthood,” he wrote on LinkedIn on Tuesday. “It has been the greatest honour to represent my country as both a player and a manager for some 20 years and to be part of the game I love for almost 40. I am incredibly thankful for the amazing people and teams who have supported me both on and off the field.