David Beckham has been widely tipped to become a Knight of the British Realm.
The former Manchester United, Real Madrid and England hero will become Sir David Beckham in King Charles III’s Birthday Honours list.
In the UK’s honours system, to be made a Knight or a Dame is one of the highest awards available and notes an outstanding contribution within a person’s field.
Originally, knighthoods were awarded for military achievements, but now they recognise wider aspects of national life.
Nonetheless, Beckham is one of a relatively small number from the UK’s national sport to ascend to the level of “Sir”.
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Former president and chairman of the Football Association Charles Clegg was the first football figure to be knighted almost a century ago in June 1927.
Clegg was one of several football administrators to be recognised with the lofty honour, with future FIFA president Stanley Rous knighted in January 1949.
The first man to be given a knighthood to acknowledge his accomplishments on the field was Stanley Matthews, the former Stoke City, Blackpool and England star.
Matthews, a right-winger like Beckham, won the inaugural Ballon d’Or in 1956. That was nine years prior to receiving his knighthood in 1965, when he brought down the curtain on an incredible 35-year career.
England’s World Cup-winning manager Alf Ramsey received a knighthood six months after leading his country to glory at the 1966 World Cup. Matt Busby was similarly honoured having masterminded Manchester United’s journey to becoming England’s first European Cup winners.
Ramsey’s predecessor Walter Winterbottom was knighted in 1978 but no more football players or managers were similarly recognised until the 1990s, perhaps reflecting football’s ascent in the wider national consciousness at this time.
England’s success of ’66 still echoed through the decades, with Bobby Charlton and Geoff Hurst the next players to become Knights, alongside Matthews’ great contemporary Tom Finney.
Alex Ferguson emulated Busby by winning the Champions League for United in 1999 and was similarly knighted, while two of the other towering managers of his era — Bobby Robson and Kenny Dalglish — were also honoured after the turn of the century, along with Trevor Brooking. The former West Ham and England midfielder’s knighthood also owed much to his work in sports administration.
The most recent footballing Knight, and a former international team-mate of Beckham’s, was Gareth Southgate after he led England to the semifinals of the 2018 World Cup and consecutive European Championship finals.
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Knighthoods in UK sport
Elsewhere, Olympic sports and those who win medals for Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the games are well represented, proportionately more so than footballers.
Standout mainstream sports stars such as Lewis Hamilton and Andy Murray have been knighted.
Dame is the equivalent of Sir for female recipients. No women’s footballer has yet been given a damehood.
Selected knighthoods in UK sport
- Sir Roger Bannister (Athletics)
- Dame Kelly Holmes (Athletics)
- Sir Mo Farah (Athletics)
- Dame Denise Lewis (Athletics)
- Sir Henry Cooper (Boxing)
- Sir Ian Botham (Cricket)
- Sir Alastair Cook (Cricket)
- Sir James Anderson (Cricket)
- Sir Chris Hoy (Cycling)
- Sir Bradley Wiggins (Cycling)
- Dame Laura Kenny (Cycling)
- Sir Jason Kenny (Cycling)
- Sir Nick Faldo (Golf)
- Dame Laura Davies (Golf)
- Sir Tony McCoy (Horse Racing)
- Sir Lewis Hamilton (Motor Racing)
- Sir Edmund Hillary (Mountaineering)
- Sir Steve Redgrave (Rowing)
- Sir Billy Boston (Rugby League)
- Sir Clive Woodward (Rugby Union)
- Sir Andy Murray (Tennis)
- Sir Ben Ainsley (Yachting)
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