- Gareth Southgate’s knighthood was in doubt amid controversial tax issue
- He has reportedly been cleared of any wrongdoing and will receive honors.
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Former England manager Gareth Southgate is set to receive a knighthood, according to reports.
Southgate, 54, resigned as national team manager following England’s devastating 2-1 loss to Spain in the Euro 2024 final in July.
He spent eight years in charge and guided the Three Lions to their first two major tournament finals since his country’s 1966 World Cup triumph.
His achievements have not gone unnoticed, and Southgate is set to be knighted in the New Year’s Honors List, according to the sun.
The same publication states that its inclusion on the list was in doubt amid a controversial tax issue.
Former England manager Gareth Southgate is set to receive a knighthood, according to reports.
Southgate’s inclusion in the New Year’s Honors List was in doubt amid a controversial tax issue.
Southgate had previously invested in a controversial film investment scheme, Ingenious Media, and executives at HM Revenue & Customs and Whitehall investigated the investment.
But the former player was cleared after he was deemed not to have broken any rules, opening the door to a knighthood, having previously missed out on the feat in 2021 as he was placed in “amber” on a “list of fiscal risk” over time.
Southood’s knighthood still requires approval, but a source told The Sun: “Now that he has approved the cheques, people are talking about him becoming ‘Sir Gareth’.”
They added: “Gareth deserves a knighthood and people in high places want to honor him.”
“He was a great servant to England and came close to leading the team to its first silver medal since 1966.
“Gareth has also been a great role model and is a highly respected public figure.”
The 54-year-old guided the Three Lions to their first two major tournament finals since 1966.
Southgate took charge of England on an interim basis. He took over after a turbulent era of English football, which saw former Three Lions manager Sam Allardyce step down by mutual consent after just 67 days, in 2016.
The Englishman was in charge of 102 matches, winning 64 of them, drawing 20 and losing only 18, reaching two European Championship finals and a World Cup semi-final in that time.
If Southgate is knighted, he will follow in the footsteps of English greats Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson.