Top Ten: Knighted footballers
Chris Colyer
Posted on: 10 November 2009 - 08:55
Football
As with most sports, only a select few footballers have been awarded a knighthood for their services to their game. There are a few surprising omissions, most notably that of the late former England captain Bobby Moore; surely there could be no stronger case for a posthumous award? The following list is a top ten of those lucky enough to have received such exceptional recognition for their contribution. For many on the list it is not only their football career that has led to their knighthood; management, promotional, and charity work have also been significant factors leading to their awards.
One figure who does not feature in the top ten, and is worthy of brief mention, is John Charles Clegg, who competed for England in the first ever international match, against Scotland in 1872, and later became chairman of the FA. Clegg was also the first footballer to receive a knighthood, although it was not specifically awarded for contributions to sport.
1. Pele
Pele, whose full name is Edison Arantes do Nascimento, is perhaps a controversial selection as the number one knighted player because, as a Brazilian, he possesses an honorary knighthood: the KBE. Pele, scoring in excess of one thousand goals with style and beauty, is arguably the greatest football player the game has ever seen. He is the only footballer to have played a part in three World Cup winning teams and is the all time leading goal scorer for his country. Pele’s off field career has been equally inspirational, being appointed as a United Nations ambassador and a UNESCO Goodwill ambassador, whilst also continuing to be involved with sport. Pele, as a footballer and a role model, is undoubtedly the greatest player to have received such a distinction.
2. Sir Alex Ferguson
Most of us know Alex Ferguson from his time with Manchester United, but his career within Scottish football is also notable. As a striker Ferguson scored 170 goals in 317 games, which included 66 for Dunfermline Athletic, 36 for Falkirk, and 25 for Glasgow Rangers. As Manger of Aberdeen he won the Scottish Premier division three times, the Scottish Cup four times, and sensationally both the UEFA Cup Winners Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in addition to the Scottish League Cup. Ferguson’s greatest success has obviously come with Manchester United, including, to mention only several competitions, 11 English Premier League titles, 5 FA Cups, 2 UEFA Champions Leagues, and FIFA Club World Cup. His record speaks for itself, and is only likely to improve. Arguably the greatest manager of all time.
3. Sir Stanley Matthews
Stanley Matthews, who played for both Stoke and Blackpool whilst also making over fifty appearances for England over a period spanning twenty-three years, is the only footballer to have received his knighthood whilst still playing - thankfully common sense has prevailed thus far following suggestions that David Beckham should join him with such a privilege. Matthews, a true English gentleman, is one of the most loved players of the English game; Pele even stated of him: ‘[he was] the man who taught us the way football should be played’. Matthews’ greatest game came in 1953 when he won the FA Cup with Blackpool, a game later dubbed the ‘Matthews final’ due to his sensational dribbling in the second half.
4. Sir Bobby Charlton
Bobby Charlton, one of the survivors of the 1958 Munich tragedy, has remained Manchester United through and through. Charlton had a glittering career as a lethal attacking midfielder, winning three league titles, four Charity Shields, one FA Cup, a single European Cup, and of course one World Cup, all of which has secured him heroic status. Following his career as a footballer, and a brief foray into management, Charlton has continued to contribute to both the English national team and the city of Manchester by supporting bids for leading sporting events.
5. Sir Geoff Hurst
West Ham and England legend Geoff Hurst remains the only player to have scored a hat-trick in a World Cup final, subsequently securing England’s only World Cup title to date. Hurst also made over one hundred appearances for Stoke, but it was his time with West Ham, during which he scored 180 goals in 411 games, that made him a household name. Whilst with the Hammers he won both the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup. He will forever be remembered in conjunction with the lines: ‘they think it’s all over… it is now!’. Legendary.
6. Sir Matt Busby
Manchester United’s other big name manager ironically began his football career with Manchester City, making 226 appearances, before joining Liverpool and playing a further 118 games before retirement. Busby was offered an assistant managerial role at Liverpool, but instead opted for a career with their red rivals United, notably possessing the managerial role during the Munich air disaster. Busby went on to win both the First Division and the FA Charity Shield five times, the FA Cup twice, and the European Cup once. Interestingly Busby has managed United for a longer period than Ferguson, yet due to the modern format of the game Ferguson has overseen more matches.
7. Sir Bobby Robson
A universally admired gentleman, Bobby Robson has been one of the most popular figures in modern football. Nobody who saw the standing ovation given to ‘Sir Bobby’ at the BBC’s 2007 Sports Personality of the Year show will ever forget it. Robson’s acceptance of the Lifetime Achievement Award was one of the truly moving moments in television sporting history.
Having had a successful career as a player, scoring over fifty goals for both Fulham and West Brom, he went on to become a leading top flight manager securing, amongst others, both the FA Cup and the UEFA Cup for Ipswich, Championships for both PSV Eindhoven and Porto, and the European Cup Winners Cup for Barcelona. As manager, Robson also took England to the 1986 World Cup, but England’s chances were dashed by Maradona’s hand of God, which Robson described thus:
‘It wasn't the hand of God. It was the hand of a rascal. God had nothing to do with it... That day, Maradona was diminished in my eyes forever’.
8. Sir Tom Finney
The ‘Preston Plumber’ Tom Finney, who received his nickname due to the trade he plied when not playing football, is a shining example to young footballers, demonstrating loyalty, commitment, and dedication to a single team, his beloved Preston North End. Finney, a tricky dribbling attacking player, scored 187 goals in 433 appearances for Preston, whilst also netting 30 times in 76 games for England. Although Finney did not enjoy cup success his skill and popularity has made him an England legend.
9. Sir Alf Ramsey
Although Alf Ramsey’s knighthood largely came on the back of his England managerial success in 1966, he played for both Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur. Whilst with Spurs Ramsey, scoring 24 goals in 226 games from the right back position, won both the second and first division titles in addition to the FA community shield. As manager of Ipswich, Ramsey took the club from the doldrums of third tier football all the way up to first division, which Ipswich subsequently became champions of in 1962. Ramsey will obviously always be remembered as the manager of the heroic England World Cup winning team.
10. Sir Trevor Brooking
Brooking, the second West Ham United player to have received a knighthood, is, like Finney, truly a one team man. During his time with the Irons he made 528 appearances, scoring 88 goals, whilst also playing in 47 England matches. Brooking won the FA Cup twice with West Ham, scoring the winning, and only, goal in the 1980 clash against Arsenal. Following his career on the field, Brooking has won admiration whilst in the position of Director of Football Development for the FA.