Tuesday, February 4News That Matters

Graeme Souness collects CBE for providers to soccer and charity at Windsor Citadel – after Liverpool and Scotland icon appeared on King’s Birthday Honours record

Liverpool and Scotland legend Graeme Souness was joined by his spouse Karen at Windsor Citadel right this moment as he obtained a CBE for providers to soccer and charity.

The tough-tackling midfielder made 358 appearances for the Reds in an period of dominance which noticed the facet elevate 5 league titles and three European Cups.

The serial winner was among the many first to seek for new challenges in different international locations, making a high-profile transfer to Italian facet Sampdoria earlier than managing the likes of Galatasaray and Benfica.

He gained 54 caps for his nationwide workforce, sporting the captain’s armband 27 occasions, earlier than embarking on a 20-year managerial profession. He has since grow to be some of the recognisable pundits and has raised greater than £1million for charity.

Mail Sport columnist Souness appeared on the King’s Birthday Honours record in June and the 71-year-old collected the distinguished award this morning.

MailSport's Souness was given the honour for services to football and charity

MailSport’s Souness was given the honour for providers to soccer and charity

The tough-tackling midfielder lifted three European Cups with Liverpool together with in 1984

The footballing legend regarded delighted as he collected his CBE at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Citadel on Tuesday.

After he was first named as a recipient of the honour over the summer time, Souness thanked the workforce at DEBRA UK, a charity supporting folks dwelling with uncommon pores and skin illness epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

He stated: ‘I’m delighted and humbled to obtain this honour.

‘It has been a life-changing few years working so carefully with DEBRA UK as vice-president and none extra so than this final yr after I was a part of a terrific workforce, swimming the English Channel to boost important funds and consciousness for DEBRA UK and EB.

‘It’s great that the King has honoured me with a CBE and you will need to acknowledge the entire workforce which works tirelessly to seek out options to the insupportable ache, itch and irritation of this horrendous situation.

‘That is for my buddy Isla [Grist, who has the disease] and everybody else dwelling with EB.’

Souness was born in Edinburgh in 1953 and grew up supporting Hearts and Rangers.

In 1968, he signed his first skilled contract beneath legendary Tottenham supervisor Invoice Nicholson however made only one substitute look in a difficult spell at White Hart Lane.

Souness (pictured, holding the league trophy) enjoyed the glory days of his career at Liverpool with fellow Scots Alan Hansen (centre) and Kenny Dalglish (right)

Souness (pictured, holding the league trophy) loved the glory days of his profession at Liverpool with fellow Scots Alan Hansen (centre) and Kenny Dalglish (proper)

Souness celebrating the opening goal of the European Cup final against Roma in 1984

Souness celebrating the opening objective of the European Cup closing towards Roma in 1984

As captain, Souness enjoyed a successful couple of seasons including a league title in 1984

As captain, Souness loved a profitable couple of seasons together with a league title in 1984

He gained a reputation for his skill and competitiveness after a big move from Middlesborough

He gained a status for his ability and competitiveness after an enormous transfer from Middlesborough

A short mortgage spell at Canadian outfit Montreal Olympique in 1972 confirmed his urge for food for jetsetting from a younger age and the formidable transfer proved one thing of a breakthrough because the Scot earned a spot within the league’s All-Star workforce of the season.

This led to a £30,000 switch to Middlesborough in the identical yr and Souness quickly made a reputation for himself on Teeside as a aggressive and skillful centre-midfielder beneath the important thing influences of rookie supervisor Jack Charlton and fellow Scot Bobby Murdoch.

After six years at Boro, which noticed them get promoted to the First Division and end seventh in 1975-75, Souness moved to Liverpool for £350,000 and launched into the halcyon days of his profession, profitable a glut of trophies in a six-year spell.

On arrival, he fashioned a Scottish trio with fellow new recruits Alan Hansen and Kenny Dalglish as Bob Paisley regarded to bolster his squad.

Only a few months into his stint at Anfield, Souness lifted the European Cup, along with his pinpoint cross to Dalglish offering the one objective within the closing towards FC Bruges at Wembley Stadium because the Reds retained the trophy.

Liverpool continued their period of dominance with Souness offering an imposing presence in midfield, lifting the First Division trophy within the subsequent two seasons earlier than profitable the European Cup as soon as once more in 1981.

Their run to a 1-0 victory over Actual Madrid within the closing was depending on the Scot’s electrifying hat-trick within the quarter-final towards CSKA Sofia.

Paisley then handed Souness the captaincy in recognition for his management and tremendous performances in a transfer which triggered a long-term feud with earlier skipper Phil Thompson.

Souness then showed his desire to branch out joining England's Trevor Francis at Sampdoria

Souness then confirmed his want to department out becoming a member of England’s Trevor Francis at Sampdoria

He ended his career as player-manager of Rangers (pictured, with Walter Smith in 1988)

He ended his profession as player-manager of Rangers (pictured, with Walter Smith in 1988)

He captained his national team 27 times and represented them at three World Cups (pictured, playing against Wales in 1979)

He captained his nationwide workforce 27 occasions and represented them at three World Cups (pictured, taking part in towards Wales in 1979)

He created one of football's enduring images as he planted a Galatasaray flag in the pitch at Fenerbahce's ground in 1996

He created certainly one of soccer’s enduring photos as he planted a Galatasaray flag within the pitch at Fenerbahce’s floor in 1996

He went on to manage a string of English sides including Newcastle, who he left in 2006

He went on to handle a string of English sides together with Newcastle, who he left in 2006

Sporting the armband, Souness led the Reds to a double of the First Division and the League Cup in Paisley’s farewell season.

Within the following yr, the Reds went one higher and lifted one other European Cup to finish a memorable treble with Souness scoring a penalty within the profitable shoot-out over Roma.

Arguably on the prime of his sport, Souness shocked followers by becoming a member of England worldwide Trevor Francis at Sampdoria for a whopping £650,000 and helped the Italian facet to their first Coppa Italia of their historical past.

The British duo complemented effectively with an thrilling group of younger Italian stars together with Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli and Souness scored a key objective within the first leg of the ultimate.

On prime of his profitable and eventful membership profession, Souness featured in a Scotland facet experiencing one thing of a golden period with the facet qualifying for World Cups in 1978, 1982 and 1986.

The midfielder retired in 1991 whereas player-manager at Rangers after a blended spell on the membership which noticed his appearances restricted by harm and disciplinary points.

His managerial efficiency was barely extra profitable north of the border with Souness main his boyhood membership to 3 Scottish League trophies and 4 League Cups.

The Scot additionally began the custom of getting an image of Queen Elizabeth II hung up within the membership’s dressing room.

Souness pictured at the BBC Sports Personality Of The Year 2023 with Dalglish and Hansen

Souness pictured on the BBC Sports activities Character Of The 12 months 2023 with Dalglish and Hansen

Souness pictured at Wimbledon with his wife Karen Souness in 2024

Souness pictured at Wimbledon along with his spouse Karen Souness in 2024

He’s identified by many as an trustworthy and insightful pundit together with with Sky Sports activities who he left in 2023

Sadly, his dream job of managing Liverpool signalled a sea-change in English soccer with Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man United taking up because the dominant power within the sport, with Souness solely lifting one FA Cup trophy in three years.

He additionally patrolled the dugout, along with his signature glare, at Galatasaray, Torino and Benfica.

In Turkey, he created one of many sport’s most iconic photos when he planted his membership’s flag into the centre circle of the pitch of arch rivals Fenerbahçe after beating them within the Turkish Cup closing in 1996.

The motion appeared to copy that of Turkish hero Ulubatli Hasan, who was killed as he planted the Ottoman flag on the conclusion of the Siege of Constantinople, main the supervisor to be nicknamed ‘Ulubatli Souness’.

His spell at Southampton the next yr was equally tumultuous with Souness famously falling foul of a hoax which claimed Senegalese participant Ali Dia was a star within the making and had come really useful by Ballon d’Or winner George Weah.

The decision had been made by Dia’s buddy and the signing may barely management the ball in his sole look after approaching for Saints legend Matt Le Tissier.

Souness adopted this up with a profitable stint at Blackburn, which noticed the facet elevate the League Cup and end tenth and sixth with a gifted younger workforce, and a difficult spell at Newcastle, which completed with the membership needing to be saved from relegation.

An entire era will bear in mind Souness as an abrasive and trustworthy Sky Sports activities pundit who rigidly gave his views on the sport for nearly 20 years till he departed in 2023. He continues to pen columns for Mail Sport.

He has raised recently money for DEBRA UK which supports those with epidermolysis bullosa

He has raised lately cash for DEBRA UK which helps these with epidermolysis bullosa

Souness was also recognised for his charitable endeavours and he swam the Channel last year for DEBRA UK

Souness was additionally recognised for his charitable endeavours and he swam the Channel final yr for DEBRA UK

The star's Channel swim raised more than £1m for the EB charity in 2023

The star’s Channel swim raised greater than £1m for the EB charity in 2023

His CBE can be recognition for his intensive charitable work, notably for DEBRA, and he swam the Channel in June 2023 and raised £1m for the organisation.

Souness describes EB because the ‘cruelest illness on the market’ and his involvement within the charity was triggered after assembly 16-year-old Isla.

After his swim, he stated: ‘From the time I’ve spent with Isla and her household, I’ve seen first-hand the intense ache this devastating situation causes and the every day challenges it creates.

‘I wished to do one thing that might make a distinction to Isla’s life and to the lives of so many others dwelling with EB, and the marginally loopy concept of swimming the English Channel was instructed.’


Discover more from PulseMediaAfrica

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Discover more from PulseMediaAfrica

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading