Former Match of the Day pundit and Liverpool legend Alan Hansen was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to football and broadcasting
Football legend Alan Hansen looked in great health as he was awarded an MBE – just nine months after a serious health scare. The ex-Liverpool and Scotland star picked up his gong from Prince William at a ceremony at Windsor Castle.
The former Match of the Day pundit, 69, was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for services to football and broadcasting. Hansen, who won three European Cups, eight league titles, two FA Cups and three League Cups in 620 appearances for Liverpool, shared a joke with the future King before smiling proudly as he posed for photos.
It comes after he was hospitalised for two weeks in June as he was seriously ill, before being discharged to continue his recovery at home
At the time Liverpool posted: “The thoughts and support of everyone at Liverpool FC are with our legendary former captain Alan Hansen, who is currently seriously ill in hospital.”
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Also receiving an award was champion rower Helen Glover who said she “never thought it was possible| for her to return to the Olympics after having three children. The two-time Olympic gold medallist was made an OBE for services to the sport.
Glover, 38,who won in London and Rio, landed a rowing silver medal in the women’s four at the Paris Olympics, having given birth to a son in July 2018 and twins 18 months later.
She said: “Two of my Olympics were before having children and two were after, and coming back post-childbirth, I never thought that was possible. Whether you want to come back and be an Olympian or you want to come back to a hobby you used to enjoy, no woman should have being a mum as the barrier to that.
“I changed fundamentally as an athlete when I had children. Put that into the workplace, you become this force. You’re fiercely driven, you have this mindset shift that makes you unstoppable.”
The rower said she had a “great conversation” with the Prince of Wales: “We’ve met a few times before at various things. He’s a big sports fan – sport is this amazing leveller. If you can talk about sport, you can talk to anybody.
“He saw the kids were here today. We talked about standing at the cold sidelines this time of year because he’s doing it with his kids at the weekend for the football and so are we.
“Whether you’re the royal family or you’re in grassroots sport, you still have to stand in the cold.” Paralympic archery champion Jodie Grinham was also made an MBE. She said: “I was really nervous but he’s just a normal person. So, so great.”
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