Gareth Southgate should hand back his knighthood as UK’s top honour becomes a farce | Football | Sport

Arise, Sir Gareth. Just reward for finally banishing the demons that have haunted England’s national side since 1996. Indeed, the scenes of euphoria that engulfed the country following glory at Euro 2020 were surpassed only by the Three Lions retaining the trophy in Germany four years later.

These achievements have long rendered your royal seal of approval inevitable.

Well, they have at least, in a parallel universe, where Southgate’s status as a noble diplomat who elevated his country has been cemented by silverware. The brutal reality, however, is that an honour that should only be reserved for those who have conquered the elite has now descended into farce.

Few can deny that England enjoyed progress during Southgate’s eight-year tenure. A team previously pilloried for the World Cup debacle in Brazil, not to mention the Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland that ended Roy Hodgson’s wretched reign, were transformed into tournament contenders.

While harbouring an improved environment, Southgate’s respectable manner with the media changed the outlook of the national side. With it came the near misses at four successive major tournaments between 2018 and 2024, with fans left to rue their team coming so close to getting over the line.

But therein lies the argument. They never did get over the line. The prestige that comes with having the King, or in Southgate’s case, Prince William, brushing your shoulder with a sword should not be aligned with those who have presided over gallant failure.

Steve Redgrave won gold medals in five successive Olympic Games to earn an invitation to Buckingham Palace. You can argue forever and a day about the merits of winning F1 titles in a superior car, but Lewis Hamilton sealed seven world crowns before his call came. Andy Murray won three Grand Slams, two Olympic golds, and the title of world No.1 to have three more letters preceding his name.

And yes, there were the League Cup wins as a player with Aston Villa and Middlesbrough. But if that’s the criteria, then Muzzy Izzett should keep his phone on.

It should be stressed that Southgate should not be hailed as the poster boy for farcical sporting knighthoods. Instead, he’s now synonymous with the escalating notion of them. David Beckham’s royal reward is questionable for contrasting reasons, but at least he has a glittering list of playing career honours to prop up his prolonged PR drive.

Even during the most agonising moments of his England tenure, Southgate was dignity personified. The most dignified act of all, however, would have been to decline the offer of an honour he does not merit.