Arsene Wenger and Gerard Houllier have been made honorary OBEs in the Queen's Birthday Honours, it was announced today.
The French pair will receive their OBEs next month as reward for their successes at Arsenal and Liverpool.
Wenger has guided the Gunners to two 'doubles' in five years and this year's FA Cup.
As non-Commonwealth citizens, the pair will be presented with the awards at a ceremony in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on July 9th. The full list of Birthday Honours is published on Saturday.
The award came out of the blue to Wenger, who said in a statement: "I am extremely proud and pleasantly surprised to be awarded with an honorary OBE.
"It is a great honour to be given this individual award, but as football is a team sport, I must give a great deal of credit and recognition to everyone that has helped me since I became manager of Arsenal in 1996.
Houllier's award is recognition of his achievements in guiding Liverpool to a Treble of the UEFA Cup, FA Cup and Worthington Cup in 2001, with further success in the European Super Cup and Charity Shield.
He said in a statement: "To be given such an award is a great, great honour and to be recognised in this way at the same time as my good friend Arsene Wenger makes it even more special.
"I am very proud to be considered worthy of such a prestigious award. This accolade is an opportunity for Arsene and I to stress how lucky and grateful we are to work in this country in jobs that we love, with people we like very much and respect.
PA