Swansea City legend Alan Curtis admits he is bursting with pride after being handed an MBE for his services to Welsh football.
The 66-year-old, who retired from coaching back in 2019, is currently the club's honorary president, having previously fulfilled a number of roles at the Liberty Stadium.
After a career in the game spanning nearly 50 years, Curtis is set to be recognised for his sterling contributions to Welsh football in the New Year's honours list.
While he also played for Leeds United, Stoke City and Southampton, it's SA1 where he is arguably most fondly remembered as a player, having scored 110 goals in more than 400 games for the Swan over the course of three separate stints.
He also played 125 games for South Wales rivals Cardiff City, and was capped 35 times for Wales.
“It's a great honour, I am totally surprised and taken aback by it, to be honest with you," he said when discussing this latest achievement.
"I am really proud to accept the honour. I knew about it a month ago and the difficulty has been to keep it a secret.
"But there is an overwhelming sense of pride. It's a terrific honour.
"I am just so grateful to have had the career I had, and to go that length of time means you can only thank all the players, staff and supporters, as well as your family.
"My only wish is that my parents were still alive, as I am sure they would have been bursting with pride.
"But it has been a great journey and a real privilege."
