Some of football's biggest names have been recognised by the British monarchy for their services to the game.
Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Kenny Dalglish spring to mind when considering football icons who have been knighted, but there are plenty more.
There are also other honours bestowed upon individuals, such as CBEs, OBEs and MBEs, and many footballers have also been recognised with those, though they are of a lower rank than those of the aforementioned individuals.
GOAL brings you everything you need to know about footballers who have been knighted.
What are knighthoods?
Knighthoods are honours awarded to individuals by the sovereign of the United Kingdom in recognition of achievements in or services to a particular field.
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Individuals are deemed to be 'knighted' when they are awarded a medal or badge which signifies that they have been given the title of Knight Grand Cross or Knight Commander (Dame Grand Cross or Dame Commander in the case of women) of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
The Knight Grand Cross/Dame Grand Cross (GBE) is the highest honour of the chivalric order, followed by Knight Commander/Dame Commander (KBE/DBE). Those who have received these honours are free to take the title Sir or Dame.
Below GBE and KBE, in order, are Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE), Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) and Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE).
Honorary knighthoods are awarded to citizens of countries where the British sovereign - in this case, the King - is not the head of state.
Football figures who have been knighted
Football figures who have been knighted form a very exclusive group, with less than 20 individuals receiving the honour.
The group includes former Manchester United managers Matt Busby and Alex Ferguson, as well as England's World Cup-winning manager Alf Ramsey.
| Person | Year |
|---|---|
| Amos Brook Hurst | 1954 |
| Trevor Brooking | 2004 |
| Matt Busby | 1968 |
| Philip Carter | 1991 |
| Bobby Charlton | 1994 |
| Charles Clegg | 1927 |
| Kenny Dalglish | 2018 |
| Alex Ferguson | 1999 |
| Tom Finney | 1998 |
| Dennis Follows | 1978 |
| Arthur George | 1972 |
| Geoff Hurst | 1998 |
| Robert Kelly | 1969 |
| John Madejski | 2009 |
| Stanley Matthews | 1965 |
| Bert Millichip | 1991 |
| Bob Murray | 2010 |
| Pele* | 1997 |
| John Quinton | 1990 |
| Alf Ramsey | 1967 |
| Dave Richards | 2006 |
| Bobby Robson | 2002 |
| Stanley Rous | 1949 |
| John Smith | 1990 |
| Gareth Southgate | 2025 |
| Andrew Stephen | 1972 |
| Harold Warris Thompson | 1968 |
| Frederick Wall | 1930 |
| Walter Winterbottom | 1978 |
*Honorary knighthood
Interestingly, Brazil's three-time World Cup winner Pele was given an honorary knighthood in 1997, but he strictly was not able use the title Sir unless he became a British citizen - at which point the honorary knighthood would then have become a substantive knighthood.
Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish and former England head coach Gareth Southgate are the most recent recipients.
Football figures who have received CBEs
Like knighthoods, the number football figures to have received CBEs remains relatively small.
Former Celtic manager Jock Stein was given the honour in 1970, three years after he helped the Glasgow club become the first British club to win the European Cup.
| Person | Year |
|---|---|
| Jimmy Armfield | 2010 |
| David Bernstein | 2014 |
| Alison Brittain | 2019 |
| Craig Brown | 1999 |
| Harry Cavan | 1990 |
| John Charles | 2001 |
| Ted Croker | 1989 |
| Charlie Dempsey | 1982 |
| Arthur Drewry | 1953 |
| Paul Elliott | 2012 |
| David Gill | 2009 |
| Ron Greenwood | 1981 |
| John Greig | 2023 |
| Roy Hodgson | 2021 |
| Pat Jennings | 2023 |
| Debbie Jevans | 2013 |
| Denis Law | 2016 |
| France Lee | 2016 |
| Laura McAllister | 2016 |
| Hope Powell | 2010 |
| Richard Scudamore | 2019 |
| Alan Shearer | 2016 |
| David Sheepshanks | 2013 |
| Peter Shilton | 2024 |
| Graeme Souness | 2024 |
| Jock Stein | 1970 |
| Ernie Walker | 1995 |
| David Will | 2002 |
| Billy Wright | 1959 |
| Sarina Wiegman* | 2022 |
*Honorary
Other figures to have received CBEs include ex England women's team manager Hope Powell and former Scotland manager Craig Brown, while former England and Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer was given a CBE in 2016.
Football figures who have received OBEs
The list of football figures who have received OBEs is much bigger than those who have received knighthoods and CBEs.
Among those who to have been rewarded with the honour are David Beckham, Brian Clough and Gary Lineker.
| Person | Year |
|---|---|
| Vic Akers | 2010 |
| Gordon Banks | 1970 |
| Brendon Batson | 2015 |
| David Beckham | 2003 |
| Luther Blissett | 2022 |
| Jim Boyce | 2015 |
| Millie Bright | 2024 |
| Karen Carney | 2024 |
| Brian Clough | 1991 |
| Chris Coleman | 2017 |
| Garth Crooks | 1999 |
| Jack Charlton | 1974 |
| Rio Ferdinand | 2022 |
| Ryan Giggs | 2007 |
| Harry Gregg | 2019 |
| Emma Hayes | 2022 |
| Jimmy Hill | 1995 |
| Gerard Houllier* | 2003 |
| Emlyn Hughes | 1980 |
| Mark Hughes | 2004 |
| Sophie Ingle | 2023 |
| Kevin Keegan | 1982 |
| Frank Lampard | 2015 |
| Gary Lineker | 1992 |
| Nat Lofthouse | 1994 |
| Des Lynam | 2008 |
| Ally McCoist | 2024 |
| Alex McLeish | 2024 |
| Bertie Mee | 1984 |
| Bobby Moore | 1967 |
| David Moyes | 2025 |
| Bill Nicholson | 1975 |
| Martin O'Neill | 2004 |
| Willie Ormond | 1975 |
| Bob Paisley | 1977 |
| Don Revie | 1970 |
| Bryan Robson | 1990 |
| Bill Shankly | 1974 |
| Walter Smith | 1997 |
| Gordon Strachan | 1993 |
| Mike Summerbee | 2022 |
| Gordon Taylor | 2008 |
| Arsene Wenger* | 2003 |
| Leah Williamson | 2023 |
| Ian Wright | 2023 |
| Gianfranco Zola | 2004 |
*Honorary OBE.
Jack Charlton, who was part of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team, has been awarded an OBE, which is sure to have been a discussion topic with his brother Sir Bobby Charlton.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, along with ex Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier and Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola have been awarded honorary OBEs.