ONE of England's best-known football men is given a fancy title, while another loses his job.
So happy new year to Sir Gareth Southgate, but less so to Wayne Rooney.
Former centre-back Southgate, 54, became the fourth former England manager to be knighted, although such an appointment doesn't necessarily qualify for a gong – just ask Sam Allardyce!
For anyone with short-term memory loss, Rooney is one of our greatest players of all time, with his 53 goals for England putting him at the top of the pile until Harry Kane passed him in 2023.
But as manager, Wayne was sacked by Plymouth a few days ago after taking them to the foot of the Championship.
It was his fourth management mistake and he may conclude that he needs new work.
His career and Sir Gareth's crossed paths at least a few times, once or twice on the playing field in 2003, when Rooney was a teenage wizard, scissor kicks a specialty and our best striker since Alan Shearer.
In 2016, he was still at the start of Southgate's eight-year tenure as England boss.
Rooney, 39, may not be a great manager, but how his dazzling talent brightened the lives of Everton fans for a short time and those of Manchester United for a generation.
Broad in the shoulders, strong and quick, he could go either side of a defender, motor at reasonable speed and even occasionally score with his left foot.
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He learned early on that he had to control himself and remain fearless – and sometimes more.
His view is perhaps echoed by his wife Coleen, who was sued in the Wagatha Christie trial by Rebekah Vardy, whose husband Jamie was also an England striker.
Whatever the cost of a lawsuit – for a case lost by Vardy – or of a family with four children, the Rooneys have made a coin of football celebrity, said to be around £200 million. Good for them.
Rooney's dismissal may have been his final attack on management, but there were no angry voices.
To his credit, he left Home Park without any grumbling against the club.
I admire that and I admire his persistence in pursuing a career as a football manager.
That takes a special character and he clearly loves football.
Southgate brought a touch of style to his English management.
His honesty and integrity are not always expected virtues in football and many international players must have found it refreshing, in addition to being part of a well-managed, decently coached and responsive squad.
He succeeded in many ways – two European finals and a World Cup semi-final and quarter-final is a good record – but it wasn't as solid an achievement as a cup or two.
Some critics also weren't happy with the way his team played. They claimed it was staid, with little flair from attacking players who were capable of so much more.
Rooney was good enough to have made a difference, but time was against them both and so we can only dream of the possibilities.
The only Knight of the Realm to win a major trophy for England was Sir Alf Ramsey, 59 years ago.
The others – Walter Winterbottom and Bobby Robson – tried and failed.
Managers, especially international managers, always need more time to connect with their players and it is perhaps surprising that Thomas Tuchel has been appointed for just an 18-month term from this week.
The end of his contract coincides with the World Cup next year, should we qualify.
If we don't, heaven will save everyone within shooting range.
England have an abundance of good attacking players, several of whom will have to wait for their international boss whose first match comes in almost three months – a qualifier against Albania.
Whatever happens, I'm sure 2025 will bring new opportunities for both Sir Gareth and Wayne.
Good luck to both of them.
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