Football may not have returned home but the Three Lions’ remarkable run in Russia hasn’t gone unnoticed.
A young England team, led by Garry Southgate reached the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in style.
The unheralded Three Lions impressed at the Mundial – the closest the British nation have had to that famous all-conquering winning side in 1966.
In recognition of that superb campaign, Southgate and his skipper Harry Kane were rewarded by the royal family.
While the manager received an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the New Year Honours list for 2019, Kane got MBE (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).
Southgate, who took over as permanent manager in November 2016 masterminded their first foray into the last four in 28 years.
Kane, meanwhile, struck six times to clinch the tournament’s Golden Boot.
“It’s quite surreal, really,” the 25-year-old said as quoted by Goal. “It’s been a great year for club and country. It’s hard to put into words really,” the Spurs striker said.
“I’m very passionate about our country, very patriotic and going back to England, it shows how good the summer was for the whole nation, not just from my point of view, but what it did bringing everyone together.”
Other footballers to be awarded honours include Rangers and Northern Ireland defender Gareth McAuley, who is made an MBE, while former Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg, who survived the Munich air disaster in 1958, is awarded an OBE.
Former Arsenal and Football Association chairman David Dein picks an MBE while there is a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for outgoing Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore.
Elsewhere Ex-West Ham striker and current Show Racism The Red Card vice-president Leroy Rosenior was also handed an MBE for services to tackling discrimination in sport.
