Scotland and Rangers legend Graeme Souness collects CBE for services to football and charity at Windsor Castle

Scotland legend Graeme Souness has received a CBE for services to football and charity.

The Scot represented his country at three World Cups, led boyhood team Rangers to three Scottish League trophies and four League Cups, and won five league titles and three European Cups with Liverpool, over a career which spanned three decades.

He was joined by his wife Karen at the investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday as he received a CBE for services to football and charity.

Souness swept up the trophies during a six-year-spell after he moved to Liverpool for £350,000 in 1978.

Souness appeared at three World Cups for Scotland. SNS Group

He won five league titles, four league cups, and three European Cups during 358 appearances at Anfield, cementing himself in Liverpool history.

The midfielder then moved to Sampdoria, before a move to boyhood heroes Rangers, where he led the Glasgow side to three Scottish League trophies and four League Cups.

He featured in a Scotland side that qualified for three World Cups, in 1978, 1982 and 1986, and went on to achieve 54 caps.

The midfielder retired in 1991 while player-manager at Rangers, and went on to have a successful managerial career in England, and even managed at Galatasaray, Torino, and Beinfica, before establishing a career as a well known football pundit.

A colourful and memorable career, it was not without controversies, including signing Mo Johnston in 1989 – the first Catholic to sign for Rangers. He also nearly started a riot after placing a Galatasaray flag into the centre of the pitch of rivals Fenerbahçe after a cup final in 1996.

Rangers' player/manager Graeme Souness in action in his final game as a player. — Rangers’ player/manager Graeme Souness in action in his final game as a player. SNS Group

After his football career, he turned to charity, and in 2023 he completed a 21-mile swim across the English Channel, raising more than £1m for DEBRA UK, a national charity supporting individuals and families affected by epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

Upon receiving his honour, he said: “I am delighted and humbled to receive this honour.

“It has been a life-changing few years working so closely with DEBRA UK as vice-president and none more so than this last year when I was part of a great team, swimming the English Channel to raise vital funds and awareness for DEBRA UK and EB.

“It is wonderful that the King has honoured me with a CBE and it is important to acknowledge the whole team which works tirelessly to find solutions to the intolerable pain, itch and inflammation of this horrendous condition.

“This is for my friend Isla [Grist, who has the disease] and everyone else living with EB.”