Former England manager Gareth Southgate has been knighted in the New Year Honours. The 54 year old is being recognised for his contributions to football, becoming the fourth England boss to receive a knighthood after Sir Walter Winterbottom, Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson.

Sir Gareth demonstrated leadership qualities from a young age, being named captain of Crystal Palace at just 22. He later played for Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, winning the League Cup with both clubs, becoming a legend at Boro for captaining them to their first and, to date, only major trophy.

Sir Gareth earned 57 caps for England between 1995 and 2004, participating in three major tournaments – Euro 1996, the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000. Despite missing the crucial penalty in the Euro 1996 semi-final shoot-out defeat to Germany, Southgate used his strong character to recover from the Wembley disappointment.

READ MORE: Middlesbrough drug dealer caught with crack cocaine will spend next four years behind bars

READ MORE: Neto Borges's new Middlesbrough role and how his team-mates might influence that

He guided Middlesbrough to the UEFA Cup final in 2006 at the end of a 16-year senior playing career, before succeeding Steve McClaren as manager when he left for England. Under Sir Gareth's leadership, Boro finished 12th and 13th in the Premier League before being relegated in May 2009.

He was dismissed in October 2009 with Middlesbrough just one point off the top spot in the Championship, and joined the Football Association as head of elite development in February 2011.

After succeeding former team-mate Stuart Pearce as under-21s manager in 2013, England triumphed in the Toulon tournament under his leadership in the summer of 2016. A few months later, he took over as England manager following Sam Allardyce’s brief tenure, marking a turning point for English football.

Sir Gareth stood shoulder to shoulder with his players on societal issues such as racism, rekindled the bond between fans and the team after a disappointing Euro 2016 under Roy Hodgson, and ensured England were a force to be reckoned with. At the 2018 World Cup, England reached the semi-finals under Sir Gareth's guidance, who turned the waistcoat into a must-have fashion accessory.

Four years later, England lost to eventual runners-up France in a World Cup quarter-final. Sir Gareth ended England’s 55-year wait for a men’s final at Euro 2020, delayed by Covid, with his side suffering a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Italy.

Another painful near miss followed four years later as Spain delivered a late blow in the Euro 2024 final in Berlin. However, Sir Gareth, who was awarded an OBE in 2019, left his post after 102 matches, being the only manager of the England men’s team to lead them to two major tournament finals.