Man United legend finally honoured by King Charles as 35 sports stars named in Birthday Honours

Two significant Manchester United figures are set to be rewarded for their services to football

Former Manchester United star Lou Macari and ex-youth coach Tony Whelan have been given MBEs in the King’s Birthday Honours. Former Scotland stalwart Macari founded the Macari Foundation in 2016 after witnessing the extent of the housing crisis in Stoke-on-Trent.

Following a playing career that reached its pinnacle with stints at Celtic and Old Trafford, as well as a place in Scotland’s 1978 World Cup squad, Macari went on to manage Stoke across two spells between 1991 and 1997, eventually settling in the town.

After coming through Manchester United’s youth ranks as a player in the late 1960s and early 1970s, Whelan returned to the club in 1990 to begin a legendary 34-year coaching and mentoring career in the academy. Before his retirement at the end of 2024, “The Godfather” served in vital roles such as Head of Academy Coaching, helping oversee the development of 97 academy graduates who successfully made their first-team debuts.

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Calls have been growing in recent work for Macari to be recognised for his charitable work. Stoke legend Mike Pejic previously said: “My hope for the New Year is that the great Lou Macari becomes Sir Lou Macari.

“The work Lou has done in our city for the homeless is extraordinary, putting a roof over the head and food in the belly of some of the most vulnerable people in our community. He is not just a figurehead for a brilliant organisation, he is the machine, an incredible one-man force of nature.

“The world is a better place because of Lou and I can’t think of anyone more deserving for an honour.” Fellow United legend Gordon Hill also called on him to be recognised in 2024 when former England manager Gareth Southgate was knighted.

Posting to X, Hill wrote: “If you are giving Southgate a knighthood, then Lou Macari should be top of the list with what he has done with the Homeless, A sight lot better than what Southgate has done. Lou deserves it.”

Speaking of the recognition, Macari told the Press Association: “It all started when I saw six homeless people in a doorway in Stoke on a cold winter’s night and went over to speak to them.

“I told them I would try to help them, I went to the council, got the keys to a property they had repossessed, and quite simply that was the start of it all.

“I had no idea where it was going to go from there. Hopefully this honour will help increase awareness because although we are still trying and having some success, none of us have found a way to get rid of the problem.”

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The King’s Birthday Honours for Sport in full:

KNIGHT BACHELOR

Kevin Sinfield, CBE, England rugby union team coach, former Great Britain, England and Leeds Rhinos rugby league player, and fundraiser, for services to rugby league, rugby union and the MND community, Oldham.

COMMANDER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (CBE)

Neil Fox, MBE, former rugby league player and coach, for services to rugby league and to the community in West Yorkshire, Wakefield.

Eva Rausing, founder, Alborada Trust, for services to charity, animal welfare, horse racing and bloodstock, Newmarket.

OFFICER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (OBE)

David Dein, MBE, The Twinning Project founder and former Arsenal vice-chairman and co-owner, for services to football and to charity, London.

Luke Donald, MBE, golfer and Europe Ryder Cup captain, for services to golf, abroad.

Clare Halsted, lately athlete, administrator and volunteer, for services to fencing, London.

Shaun Murphy, snooker player, for services to snooker and to charity, Liverpool.

Ian Robertson, broadcaster, for services to rugby union and to broadcasting, Norwich.

Emily Scarratt, MBE, former England centre and fullback, for services to rugby union, Coalville.

Mark Stuart, pharmacist expert, for services to the pharmacy profession in sport and to anti-doping, London.

MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE (MBE)

Michelle Agyemang, England and Arsenal footballer, for services to football, Stanford-le-Hope, Essex.

Ian Bamford, Irish Amateur Open past winner and former Royal Portrush captain, for services to amateur golf, Belfast.

Brenda Bland, former Great Britain swimming team manager, for services to swimming in Great Britain, Hartlepool.

Professor Chris Brookes, Wigan Warriors chair and lately Rugby Football League and England Rugby League chief medical officer, for services to rugby league, Bolton.

Lee Carsley, England men’s Under-21s coach, for services to football, Solihull.

Jess Carter, England and Gotham FC footballer, for services to football, Warwick.

Krysten Coombs, athlete and trustee Dwarf Sports Association UK, for services to badminton and to the Dwarf Sports Association, Sheffield.

Alan Crooks, Irish Football Association disability manager, for services to disability football, Newtonards, County Down.

Jane Figueiredo, diving coach, for services to diving, London.

Hannah Hampton, England and Chelsea footballer, for services to football, London.

Jane Harvey, former professional tennis umpire, for services to tennis, Crewkerne, Somerset.

Lauren James, England and Chelsea footballer, for services to football, London.

Cliff Jones, former Wales and Tottenham footballer, for services to Welsh football, Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire.

Karen Jones, Netball South West chair and England Netball honorary life member, for services to netball in England, Tavistock.

Chloe Kelly, England and Arsenal footballer, for services to football, Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

Ian Lovett, lately England and Wales Cricket Board president, for services to cricket and to charity, Sevenoaks, Kent.

Richard Lyttle, former racecourse manager, for services to the horse racing industry, Ballynahinch, County Down.

Lou Macari, former footballer (Scotland, Celtic, Manchester United), manager (numerous clubs) and Macari Foundation founder, for services to football and to homeless people in Stoke-on-Trent,

Ryan Moore, jockey, for services to horseracing and to British sport, Newmarket.

Richard Morris, head of GB Para Badminton, for services to sport and disabled people, Sheffield.

Garry Richardson, broadcaster, for services to sport broadcasting, Seale, Surrey.

Alessia Russo, England and Arsenal footballer, for services to football, Radlett, Hertfordshire.

Gary Street, lately head coach England women’s rugby, for services to rugby union, Ashford, Surrey.

Brian Walsh, former Ireland cricket team manager, services to cricket, Belfast.

Tony Whelan, Manchester United youth football coach, for services to football, Sandbach, Cheshire.

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