Lovebitesandeveryfing
Well-Known Member
I'm serious. I've been thinking about this. Probably jumping the gun somewhat, in that we could still come an almighty cropper in the CL, and the thought of losing to the rags on the huge stage that is Wembley is a downright grisly one.
Now you cannot be knighted, or proposed for a knighthood, unless you are British or a citizen of certain Commonwealth territories (don't ask! that one's complicated). You can, however, be proposed for an honorary knighthood, and that gives you the right to have KBE or DBE (acronyms, I believe, for Knight of the British Empire, or Dame of the British Empire) after your name.
Now whatever anyone says, Ferguson was knighted after winning the treble, and to a very considerable extent because of it. Pep is on the cusp of doing that. But I emphasise this: it's not just about trophies. Many people have accumulated a cartload of trophies and titles.
Far more than Ferguson, in my opinion, Pep has changed the way football is played in this country. A better comparison with Pep, despite the fact that he didn't win so many titles, is Busby. Pep has brought so many new things to the way people think about, and practice, the game. He has made a genuine contribution to the sporting community. Not just to MCFC. I quote from a site called wearebayleaf.com: “Any individual who is recommended for a knighthood or damehood must be doing inspirational and outstanding work that goes above and beyond that of their peers. The nominee will have achieved results that benefit the community, their peers or society at large in some way”.
That seems to me to be an admirable definition of what Pep has done in his own field.
By temperament, I'm not all that wild about honours, knighthoods, statues, etc. But in this case I think it would be an absolute blast. Of course, I'm not objective…
Now you cannot be knighted, or proposed for a knighthood, unless you are British or a citizen of certain Commonwealth territories (don't ask! that one's complicated). You can, however, be proposed for an honorary knighthood, and that gives you the right to have KBE or DBE (acronyms, I believe, for Knight of the British Empire, or Dame of the British Empire) after your name.
Now whatever anyone says, Ferguson was knighted after winning the treble, and to a very considerable extent because of it. Pep is on the cusp of doing that. But I emphasise this: it's not just about trophies. Many people have accumulated a cartload of trophies and titles.
Far more than Ferguson, in my opinion, Pep has changed the way football is played in this country. A better comparison with Pep, despite the fact that he didn't win so many titles, is Busby. Pep has brought so many new things to the way people think about, and practice, the game. He has made a genuine contribution to the sporting community. Not just to MCFC. I quote from a site called wearebayleaf.com: “Any individual who is recommended for a knighthood or damehood must be doing inspirational and outstanding work that goes above and beyond that of their peers. The nominee will have achieved results that benefit the community, their peers or society at large in some way”.
That seems to me to be an admirable definition of what Pep has done in his own field.
By temperament, I'm not all that wild about honours, knighthoods, statues, etc. But in this case I think it would be an absolute blast. Of course, I'm not objective…