Graham Taylor the former England football coach who also managed Watford, Aston Villa and Wolves at club level and Gary McAllister, the former Scotland midfielder who last season won three trophies with Liverpool are honoured in the British New Year honours list.
Taylor, awarded the OBE, made his name with Watford before succeeding Bobby Robson as England manager in 1990.
The 57-year-old's four-year spell at international level was characterised by a stormy relationship with the press, highlighted by the time one newspaper super-imposed a turnip on his head after England had been beaten by the Swedes.
McAllister, who turned 37 on Christmas Day, is made an MBE. He is currently enjoying a successful swansong with Liverpool and helped them to the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and League Cup last season.
Nasser Hussain's contribution to the revival of the England cricket team has been recognised by the award of an OBE while Lennox Lewis is made a CBE for his exploits in boxing.
Hussain (33) led England to four consecutive winning series before Australia ended the run last summer.
The Essex batsman is recognised as a central figure in the revival of England's fortunes, and even in the 1-0 series defeat in India recently the performances by a squad missing several senior players have received much praise.
Lewis, previously made an MBE, lost his world heavyweight crown to American Hasim Rahman in April but in November regained the WBC, IBF and IBO titles in an impressive Las Vegas re-match.
There are also honours for sporting stars of the past. Max Faulkner, who won golf's Open championship in 1951, is made an OBE while former Olympic flyweight Terry Spinks gets an MBE.
Faulkner (85) from Pulborough in West Sussex won the Open at Royal Portrush, the only time it has been played in Northern Ireland.
Spinks (63) was a binman at London's Albert Docks when he won Olympic gold at Melbourne in 1956. He had a short professional career, becoming British featherweight champion, and has dedicated much of his life to work with youth and boxing clubs.
