TNT Sports pundits Karen Carney and Ally McCoist honoured with OBE by Prince William - 'It was very special'
By Leon Imber
Published 02/10/2024 at 19:37 GMT+1
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TNT Sports experts Karen Carney and Ally McCoist both described the "special" feeling of being awarded an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) by Prince William at Windsor Castle on Wednesday. Carney made over 100 appearances for England during her playing career, while McCoist played over 60 times for Scotland. Both were honoured for their impressive playing and broadcasting careers.
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Karen Carney and Ally McCoist both shared their elation after being awarded an OBE by Prince William at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.
The TNT Sports football experts - who were recognised for both their glittering playing careers as well as their impressive broadcasting tenures - both said it was "special" to receive the accolade.
McCoist has lit up TNT Sports' coverage of European competitions since joining the team in 2023, after a fruitful playing career which saw him represent Scotland over 60 times, while also standing as Rangers' all-time leading goalscorer with 355 goals from 581 games.
Carney, meanwhile, also enjoyed a fantastic playing career - notching 144 England caps while also starring for her beloved Birmingham City, as well as spells with Arsenal and Chelsea. The England icon joined the TNT Sports broadcasting team in September.
On receiving the honour, McCoist said: "It really makes me proud because I'm very fortunate to do something I really enjoy.
"I was blessed to play professional football for 22 years, and then to have the opportunity to stay in the profession in a different capacity but equally enjoy it.
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"I'm very blessed. There's not a lot of people who can do that or say that. I'm very, very lucky. As I say I work with some absolutely fantastically talented people. Long may that continue."
Meanwhile, Carney spoke of the "weird" but "really cool" feeling of having the OBE title.
"It's been in the diary for some time and then only as I walked up and got into the room I got a little bit emotional and then it became quite real," the England legend said. "It's been a great day, we're going to make a day of it as well. It doesn't end now, when you get dressed up like this you want to celebrate it."
The pair of football greats received the award from Prince William - and both were delighted to be honoured by the renowned football lover.
Both Carney and McCoist were keen to pick the brains of the prince over Wednesday night's clash between his favourite club Aston Villa and German giants Bayern Munich, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Carney said: "The one common language that we can all speak is football, so had a good football chat with him which was cool and had a really good time.
"I don't want to be disrespectful to any of the others, but I've met Prince William before when I played for England, met him various times.
"To receive my OBE from him was special. He's a massive football fan so we just chatted about football really.
"Everyone knows I'm a massive Birmingham City fan, and obviously Prince William is a Villa fan. There's a big Villa game tonight which he's going to.
"So I did my dad proud and said look I'm gonna give you some banter about the Villa and make sure you know I'm a Blues fan, which I've told him many times before.
"He's a massive football fan, Lionesses and men's football as well - it was great to chat with him."
McCoist was also keen to get Prince William's thoughts on Villa's seismic UEFA Champions League clash, and recalled an interaction he had with the royal years ago regarding the Midlands club's signing of Scottish midfielder John McGinn.
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"As you can imagine he was in fantastic form," McCoist said. "Clearly looking forward to his team's performance tonight, Aston Villa, had a little chat about that. It was wonderful, a man I obviously have a lot of respect for."
The Scotland legend added: "We'd met before a few years back on a flight to Aberdeen. I think he was heading up to Balmoral, I didn't think he'd remember the occasion. But he said I haven't seen you since - he meets so many people. So that was nice we spoke about that. We moved onto the football, we were both very comfortable talking about.
"I just can't get away from John McGinn," McCoist laughed. "He [Prince William] stuck his head through the two chairs in row two in front of me on the flight to Aberdeen, he was asking me about Aston Villa's new signing John McGinn, and I told him quite confidently he'd be fine, John McGinn would do well.
"And he did mention that, he said you were right. At least I got that one right!"
"He's just friendly and open and genuine, just asking about my family. He knew my boys were down, he was asking how they were all doing. There was just a genuine warmth from the man, it was very special."
McCoist and Carney's broadcasting ventures continue with a bumper set of fixtures across the UEFA Champions League and Europa League on Wednesday and Thursday - live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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TNT Sports will show over 500 matches from the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Conference League across the 2024-25 season. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
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