Scotland and Rangers legends Ally McCoist and Graeme Souness are among the sensational Scots recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list.

The pair are both currently in Germany, with the former striker commentating on Friday night’s epic Scotland vs Germany match for ITV. McCoist, 61, is made an OBE for services to association football and broadcasting.

Sounness, 71, who was in the studio as a pundit, was also handed an OBE for his football career and charity work. Last year the ex-Liverpool midfielder swam the English Channel raising more than £1million for the charity Debra UK.

Other Scots to be recognised by King Charles include former prime minister Gordon Brown and golfer Sandy Lyle, who won two Majors in the 80s and becomes an OBE. Mr Brown, 73, becomes a Companion of Honour for public and charitable services in the UK and abroad.

The honour recognises significant contributions to the arts, science, medicine or government over a long period of time and is limited to just 65 people at any one time.

He said: “I feel slightly embarrassed as the opportunity to serve is an honour in itself and my preference has always been to recognise all those brilliant, unsung, local heroes who quietly and selflessly give their time to contribute to the vitality of our communities.

I want to thank those who put my name forward and thank too my family and all who have worked with me during the last 50 years in public life, to whom I owe everything.”

There is a knighthood for historian Professor Sir Niall Ferguson, who first came to the attention of many in the UK with the hit 2003 Channel 4 series Empire: How Britain Made The Modern World, and a best-selling book of the same name. From the arts world, The Thick Of It creator Armando Iannucci becomes a CBE for services to film and television.

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