Several British association football players have been knighted, including Stanley Matthews, Bobby Charlton, Alex Ferguson, Kenny Dalglish, and Gareth Southgate. The honor recognizes service, not simply a player’s goals, trophies, or fame.
This list explains who received a knighthood, when it was awarded, and what each person is known for. It also clears up common mix-ups: some celebrated footballers received an OBE or CBE but were never knighted, while a few knights are better known as managers than as players.
which football players have been knighted
The best-known British footballers knighted for their contributions to association football include Stanley Matthews, Alf Ramsey, Matt Busby, Bobby Charlton, Alex Ferguson, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Robson, Trevor Brooking, Kenny Dalglish, and Gareth Southgate. Tom Finney and Walter Winterbottom are also among the football figures who received knighthoods.
A knighthood is a British honor. A man who receives one may use “Sir” before his name; the equivalent honor for a woman is a damehood, which allows her to use “Dame.” The award usually reflects a person’s wider service to the country or sport, not just their record on the field.
This article focuses on association football, often called soccer in the United States, and on British honors. It includes people who played the game as well as major figures whose careers later centered on coaching or management. It does not treat every international award or honorary title as a British knighthood.
Notable footballers who received a knighthood
| Name | Knighthood | Football contribution | Best known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanley Matthews | 1965 | Player | Exceptional longevity and skill as a winger |
| Alf Ramsey | 1967 | Player and manager | Managing England to the 1966 World Cup |
| Matt Busby | 1968 | Player and manager | Building Manchester United after the Second World War |
| Tom Finney | 1998 | Player | Preston North End and England career |
| Geoff Hurst | 1998 | Player | Scoring a hat-trick in the 1966 World Cup final |
| Alex Ferguson | 1999 | Player and manager | Managing Manchester United for more than two decades |
| Bobby Robson | 2002 | Player and manager | Managing England and several club sides |
| Trevor Brooking | 2004 | Player and football leader | West Ham United and later football administration |
| Kenny Dalglish | 2018 | Player and manager | Success with Celtic and Liverpool |
| Gareth Southgate | 2025 | Player and manager | Leading England to two major tournament finals |
The table highlights prominent examples, not every person connected with football who has ever received a British knighthood. Honors recognize different kinds of service, and the recipient’s playing career may be only part of the reason for the award.
Stanley Matthews
Sir Stanley Matthews received his knighthood in 1965. He was the first footballer to be knighted, and the award came while he was still playing professionally. His long career, close control, and reputation as a skilful winger made him a standout in English football.
Matthews played for Stoke City and Blackpool, among other clubs, and represented England. His career lasted into his fifties, an extraordinary span for a professional player. His honor is often cited as a landmark because it showed that football achievement could earn the country’s highest public recognition.
Alf Ramsey and Matt Busby
Sir Alf Ramsey was knighted in 1967, following England’s victory at the 1966 World Cup. Before becoming England’s manager, he played for Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur and represented his country. The title recognized his managerial achievement, but his career began as a professional footballer.
Sir Matt Busby received a knighthood in 1968. He had played for Manchester City and Liverpool before becoming one of Manchester United’s most influential managers. His leadership helped rebuild the club after the 1958 Munich air disaster and shaped its development over many years.
These two names help explain why a list of knighted footballers includes managers. The honor may recognize a person’s impact across a full football career, not only their playing record. Ramsey’s defining achievement was with England; Busby’s was his lasting contribution to Manchester United.
Tom Finney and Geoff Hurst
Sir Tom Finney received a knighthood in 1998. He spent almost his entire club career with Preston North End and was also a regular for England. Remembered for his versatility and technical ability, he became one of the most admired English players of his generation.
Sir Geoff Hurst was also knighted in 1998. He is remembered above all for scoring three goals for England in the 1966 World Cup final against West Germany. Hurst remains the only player to score a hat-trick in a men’s World Cup final. His award recognized the significance of that achievement and his wider services to football.
Alex Ferguson and Bobby Robson
Sir Alex Ferguson was knighted in 1999 after a career as a player, coach, and manager. He played professionally in Scotland before moving into management. His later work at Manchester United brought major domestic and European success and made him one of the most influential managers in the modern game.
Sir Bobby Robson received his knighthood in 2002. He played for Fulham and West Bromwich Albion and earned international caps for England before becoming a manager. His managerial career included leading England to the 1990 World Cup semifinals and working with leading clubs in Britain and Europe.
Ferguson and Robson show how football honors often recognize sustained leadership as well as playing ability. Neither man became known chiefly for individual playing statistics. Their influence as managers, and their contribution to football over decades, formed a substantial part of their public recognition.
Trevor Brooking and Kenny Dalglish
Sir Trevor Brooking was knighted in 2004. He made his name as a West Ham United midfielder and represented England. After his playing days, he held senior roles in football, including work with the Football Association. His recognition reflects both his playing career and his later service to the game.
Sir Kenny Dalglish received a knighthood in 2018. He starred for Celtic and Liverpool, won major honors as a player, and later managed both clubs. Dalglish is also widely respected for his support of Liverpool after the Hillsborough disaster and for his charitable work. His career combines football success with service beyond the pitch.
Gareth Southgate and Walter Winterbottom
Sir Gareth Southgate was knighted in the 2025 New Year Honours. Before managing England, he played for Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, and Middlesbrough, and earned caps for his country. As England manager, he led the men’s team to the finals of Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, as well as the 2018 World Cup semifinals.
Sir Walter Winterbottom was knighted in 1978. He played professionally before becoming a coach and then England’s first full-time manager. His work developing coaching and the national team’s approach made him an important figure in English football history, even though many fans know him more for his leadership than his playing career.
Winterbottom’s example also shows why definitions matter in lists like this. Some people are described as footballers because they played professionally, even if they later became known chiefly for management, coaching, or administration.
What a football knighthood does—and does not—mean
A knighthood is a personal honor granted by the British Crown on the recommendation of the government. It is not a football award, a league title, or a position within a club. A recipient may be honored for service to football, charity, public life, or a combination of contributions.
The honorific “Sir” is used by men who receive a British knighthood. Women receive the corresponding honor of damehood and use “Dame.” A footballer does not become a knight simply by winning the World Cup, collecting league titles, or entering a hall of fame. Those achievements can contribute to a case for recognition, but they do not automatically bring an honor.
It is also useful to distinguish the level of an honor from the person’s fame. The Order of the British Empire has several levels, including MBE, OBE, CBE, and knighthood or damehood. A person awarded an OBE or CBE does not use “Sir” or “Dame” on that basis alone.
Famous footballers who were honored but not knighted
Some famous names are mistakenly included in lists of knights because they received another national honor. David Beckham, for example, was appointed an OBE in 2003, not knighted. He should not be called Sir David Beckham on the strength of that award.
Other celebrated players have received MBEs, OBEs, or CBEs. Those honors recognize significant service, but they are not knighthoods. The distinction matters in biographies and headlines: “honored” does not always mean “knighted.” If a player’s name is preceded by “Sir,” check whether a knighthood was actually awarded rather than assuming from a medal or title.
There are also football figures who received knighthoods primarily for their work outside playing. Club ownership, public service, charity, and football administration can all shape a person’s reputation. A list should say what the person did, rather than imply that every honor came solely from goals or appearances.
How to interpret the list
When checking whether a player has been knighted, look for three details: the exact honor, the year it was awarded, and whether the recipient was a player, manager, or administrator. These details prevent common errors and make the person’s contribution clearer.
- Check the title. “Sir” indicates a knighthood for a man; “Dame” indicates the female equivalent. An MBE, OBE, or CBE alone does not confer either title.
- Check the recipient’s football role. A person may have played professionally before becoming known as a manager or official. Say both when the distinction helps explain the honor.
- Check the award year. The year provides context, but it is not necessarily the year of the person’s most famous achievement. Honors can follow a career milestone after some time has passed.
- Keep the scope clear. “Football” can refer to different sports in different countries. This list concerns association football and British honors, not American football or every national award system.
One detail that is easy to miss is that “footballer knighted” can mean two different things: a player who received the honor for a playing career, or a football professional who received it for a broader lifetime contribution. Both descriptions can be accurate, but the reason for the award should be stated carefully.
Why the list can change over time
Knighthoods are announced in official honors lists, including New Year and birthday honors. New recipients may therefore join the list, and the most current answer depends on the latest announcements. A person’s public profile can also shift: a former player may later earn recognition through management, charity, or other service.
Some online lists are incomplete because they focus only on star players, leave out early football figures, or confuse a knighthood with a lower-level honor. Others include club chairmen or administrators without making clear that they were not notable players. Checking the role and award level gives a more accurate picture than relying on a name-only list.
For historical writing, it is sensible to use the recipient’s title as it applied after the award. A player who was knighted should be referred to as “Sir” in a formal context, while someone with an OBE or CBE should not be given that title. This small distinction keeps the facts precise without diminishing the value of other honors.
Among the most notable footballers to receive knighthoods are Stanley Matthews, Alf Ramsey, Matt Busby, Bobby Charlton, Alex Ferguson, Geoff Hurst, Bobby Robson, Kenny Dalglish, and Gareth Southgate. Their honors reflect different contributions, from landmark playing careers to lasting work as managers and leaders.
For an accurate reference to which football players have been knighted, check the award itself: an OBE or CBE is not a knighthood. When you name a recipient, include their football role and the year of the honor so readers can see why they belong on the list.