Former England cricket captain Alastair Cook was made a knight in the New Year Honours list released Friday in the annual celebration of achievement in British society.
Cook stood down international cricket in September having scored the most runs of any Englishman, 12,472 over 161 Tests, and serving as captain of his country in the long-form of the game a record 59 times. He ended his career as the fifth highest run scorer in Test history.
Welsh cyclist Geraint Thomas, who in July became only the third Briton to win the Tour de France, was appointed a medallist of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
The same honour was given to England football manager Gareth Southgate, in recognition of his efforts in Russia this summer with the national team at the World Cup. Harry Kane, the Tottenham Hotspur striker who captained the side, was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE).
Other football personalities who were honoured included Richard Scudamore, who stepped down this year as the executive chairman of the Premier League after 19 years, who was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).
David Dein, the former vice-chairman of Arsenal, was made an MBE for his voluntary work in schools and prisons, while the Northern Irish footballer Gareth McAuley received the same award for his longstanding service to the game.
In rugby, two key figures were honoured: Bill Beaumont, who captained his country during the amateur era in the late 1970s and subsequently became chairman of World Rugby, was given a knighthood.
Willie McBride, a former captain of Ireland who went on to manage his national side and the British & Irish Lions, was rewarded for services to the game with a CBE.
