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GONG FOR GARETH
Gareth Southgate in line for an ‘OBE’ after taking England to brink of World Cup glory
England football boss Gareth Southgate will be awarded a New Year honour, The Sun on Sunday can reveal
ENGLAND football boss Gareth Southgate will be awarded a New Year honour, The Sun on Sunday can reveal.
The 48-year-old coach is in line for an OBE after taking his young Three Lions heroes to the brink of World Cup glory.
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He has been told about the award but is sworn to secrecy.
A source said last night: “Gareth is definitely up for an honour, most likely an OBE or CBE, as it is perhaps too early for a knighthood. That might be one for the future.
“He is on the list, very few people know about it yet.”
Southgate’s gong, for services to Association Football, comes after he put his tax affairs in order, having invested in schemes probed for alleged avoidance.
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The Sun on Sunday says
GARETH Southgate is richly deserving of an honour.
And it’s as much for what he does off the pitch as he ever did playing for, or managing, England.
He is generous with his time for charities, a fine example for youngsters, and is one of the most eloquent champions of our brilliant, diverse, modern Britain.
Here’s to you, Gareth. And here’s to hoping we do even better in our next semi-final.
The source stressed: “Gareth would not have been selected for this award if he had not been approved by HMRC. They have told the Cabinet Office he is good to go for the honour.”
The awards committee, which is made up of senior civil servants and independent experts, is said to be keen to recognise him for taking the job in difficult circumstances.
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The ex under-21s boss, capped 57 times as a player, was made interim manager in September 2016 after Sam Allardyce left by mutual consent.
He was handed a four-year permanent contract just two months later.
Past England boss Alf Ramsey was knighted for the 1966 World Cup win, while Bobby Robson was made a Sir in 2002, 12 years after we reached the semis in Italy.
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Ex-Crystal Palace and Aston Villa star Southgate has two kids with wife Alison who he wed in 1997.
A year earlier he was vilified for a penalty shoot-out miss against Germany that cost a place in the Euro Championship final.
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