Zola awarded Order of the British Empire

[nicephoras]

Cool (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/headlinenews?id=314718&cc=5901). And well deserved for Gianfranco!

[adri]

does that make him 'Sir Zola' now? :)

[Eddie26]

does that make him 'Sir Zola' now? :)

No you idiot!! It makes him 'Sir Little Sardinian with the Magic Feet'!!! :D

All joking aside, no he's not a Sir. Only people who are knighted are Sirs. I don't think non-Brits can be knighted. Can someone clarify?

[nicephoras]

No, they cannot be knighted. I believe OBE is the highest honor a non-British national can receive.

[Eddie26]

No, they cannot be knighted. I believe OBE is the highest honor a non-British national can receive.

That's what I thought too but wasn't sure.

[BridgeMonkee]

congratulations to the great little genius with the amazing feet!

No, they cannot be knighted. I believe OBE is the highest honor a non-British national can receive.

Actually, only a British national can be a Sir, OBE or MBE proper, all foreigners are made “honourary” members only – Zola has been made an honourary member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

[hfmea]

He deserves it!.. :D

[Dave_M]

That's what I thought too but wasn't sure.

But you thought youd have a dig at adri anyway... :D

Didnt Bill Gates try and buy a knighthood once? Or was that just just tabloid bile?


Zola deserves it though no doubt. Im actually supprised a lot of out domestic talent (of the 20 year veteran variety) dont have any honours of that sort...

[nicephoras]

congratulations to the great little genius with the amazing feet!



Actually, only a British national can be a Sir, OBE or MBE proper, all foreigners are made “honourary” members only – Zola has been made an honourary member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Well would you look at Sir Monkee here! :D

[Eddie26]

But you thought youd have a dig at adri anyway... :D

Didnt Bill Gates try and buy a knighthood once? Or was that just just tabloid bile?

I wasn't digging at him...it was all in fun. He knows that.

Is there anything he hasn't tried to buy? (Besides my 1991 Nissan Altima with 150,000 miles?)

[paulo]

well deserved.

[Lowecifer]

He deserves it.

[fedwood]

Let me make a few comments
Order of British Empire would make his official title
Gianfranco Zola OBE

You dont have to be a british national to be a sir lol
there are a ton of 'sirs' that arent british
e.g.
Sir Donald Bradman (Australian cricket player)
Sir Edmund Hillary (New Zealander..climbed Everest with Tenzig Norgay yet Norgay didnt get knighted...wtf)

[Dave_M]

DOnt those constitute part of the empire though...such as it was

[BridgeMonkee]

Let me make a few comments
Order of British Empire would make his official title
Gianfranco Zola OBE

You dont have to be a british national to be a sir lol
there are a ton of 'sirs' that arent british
e.g.
Sir Donald Bradman (Australian cricket player)
Sir Edmund Hillary (New Zealander..climbed Everest with Tenzig Norgay yet Norgay didnt get knighted...wtf)

Actually, only a British (or Commonwealth) national can be a Sir, OBE or MBE proper, all foreigners are made “honourary” members only – Zola has been made an honourary member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

i.e. Sir Bob Gedolf - As a non-British subject the Irish-born Geldof was legally precluded from being awarded a full knighthood, and use of the title "Sir". Nevertheless, he is commonly referred to as "Sir Bob Geldof", if not "Saint Bob".

Personally I did a John Lennon and sent mine back :D
As I write this I'm listening to the Pistols sing God Save the Queen - Steve Jones and Paul cook are Chelsea fans incidentally, Lydons a fecking gooner, I'm not sure when these lads will get knighted though.

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in order of seniority:

Knight or Dame Grand Cross (G.B.E.)

Knight or Dame Commander (K.B.E. or D.B.E.)

Commander (C.B.E.)

Officer (O.B.E.)

Member (M.B.E.)

Most members belong to the United Kingdom or to Commonwealth nations. Citizens of other countries, however, may be admitted as "honorary members." They do not count towards the numerical limits aforementioned, nor are they addressed as "Sir." (They may be made full members if they subsequently become British citizens.) Notable foreign members of the Order have included Pelé, Bill Gates, Rudy Giuliani, Alan Greenspan, Steven Spielberg and Wesley Clark (all Knights Commanders).

At the foundation of the Order, the "Medal of the Order of the British Empire" was instituted. In 1922, it was renamed the "British Empire Medal." Recipients, who are not members of the Order itself, are grouped into the Civil and Military Divisions. Only junior government and military officials are awarded the medal; senior officials are directly appointed to the Order of the British Empire. The United Kingdom's Government has not recommended the awarding of the medal since 1992, though some Commonwealth nations continue the practice.

The Order has six officials: the Prelate, the Dean, the Secretary, the Registrar, the King of Arms and the Usher. The Bishop of London, the most senior bishop in the Church of England, serves as the Order's Prelate. The Dean of St Paul's is ex officio the Dean of the Order. The Order's King of Arms is not a member of the College of Arms, like many other heraldic officers. The Usher of the Order is known as the Gentleman Usher of the Purple Rod; he does not, unlike his Order of the Garter equivalent (the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod), perform any duties related to the House of Lords.

[fedwood]

someone said you have to be a British National
which is not the case
Part of the Commonwealth is different to a British National

[BridgeMonkee]

Citizens of countries which do not recognise the Queen as head of state sometimes have honours conferred upon them, in which case the awards are "honorary" - the holders are entitled to place initials behind their name but not style themselves "Sir ...". Examples of foreigners with honorary knighthoods are Bob Geldof and Rudolph Giuliani, while Arsène Wenger and Gerard Houllier are honorary OBEs.

[fedwood]

Citizens of countries which do not recognise the Queen as head of state sometimes have honours conferred upon them, in which case the awards are "honorary" - the holders are entitled to place initials behind their name but not style themselves "Sir ...". Examples of foreigners with honorary knighthoods are Bob Geldof and Rudolph Giuliani, while Arsène Wenger and Gerard Houllier are honorary OBEs.


I cant believe Houllier got one
what a rook

[BridgeMonkee]

I cant believe Houllier got one
what a rook

I know. It was that one good (lucky) season he had. Its a joke, Hooly air is a buffoon. Zola put in 7 good seasons and then some.