12 hours ago
2
Jonty Colman
BBC Sport journalist
Former England captain David Beckham is set to become the 16th men's footballer to be knighted.
BBC Sport has been told Beckham will become a 'sir' in the King's Birthday Honours list for 2025.
In 2003, Beckham was appointed an officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to football and he is now set to be awarded a knighthood.
Among the former footballers to have been knighted are 1966 World Cup winners Geoff Hurst and Bobby Charlton, former Manchester United managers Alex Ferguson and Matt Busby and former England bosses Gareth Southgate, Alf Ramsey and Walter Winterbottom.
Image source, Getty Images
Former Liverpool manager and Scotland striker Kenny Dalglish was knighted in 2018
Sir Hubert Ashton
Lord (Ian) Botham*
Sir Trevor Brooking
Sir Matt Busby
Sir Bobby Charlton
Sir Charles Clegg
Sir Kenny Dalglish
Sir Alex Ferguson
Sir Tom Finney
Sir Geoff Hurst
Sir Stanley Matthews
Sir Alf Ramsey
Sir Bobby Robson
Sir Gareth Southgate
Sir Walter Winterbottom
This list excludes honorary knighthoods.
Everyone on this list has made at least one professional appearance in England's professional leagues.
* While Lord Botham was knighted (and then ennobled) for services to cricket, he also made 11 Football League appearances for Scunthorpe United.
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