Premier League stalwart Gary Speed has been awarded an MBE for his services to the game. Speed, one of the Premier League's most outstanding former players, has been honoured for his lengthy career with Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Leeds United and Sheffield United.
The midfielder held the record of most Premier League appearances with 535 until February 2009 when Portsmouth goalkeeper David James overtook him.
He has also since been passed by Ryan Giggs but has still made the third highest number of Premier League appearances ahead of Sol Campbell (496), Emile Heskey (469) and Frank Lampard (467).
He made his name as a goalscoring midfielder, netting 81 times in his 535 Premier League appearances between 1992 and 2008.
He helped Leeds to the League Cup final in 1996 before joining Everton for £3.5m. Two years later he switched to Newcastle United for £5.5m.
Manager Bobby Robson presented him with a Barclaycard Merit award ahead of his 400th Premier League match in February 2004.
He moved to Bolton for £750,000 in July 2004 and became the first player to make 500 Premier League appearances when he played in the 4-0 victory over West Ham United in December 2006.
In 2007, he briefly joined the coaching staff from May to October before moving to Sheffield United in January 2008.
When Speed netted a header for Bolton against Reading on 25th August 2007, it made him the only player to have scored in every Premiership season at the time.
Ryan Giggs later matched the achievement and passed it on 8th February 2009 before extending the run against Tottenham Hotspur in September 2009.
Speed, who will be 41 on 20th June, finished his playing career with Sheffield United at the end of last season and is now on their coaching staff.
Famed for his discipline, work ethic and professionalism, Speed has played with and against many of the best footballers in the world during his 16 years in the Premier League.
He is also known for his contribution to charity, running the 2010 London marathon in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the cancer charity founded by the former England manager.
Born in Mancot, Wales, on 8th September, 1969, Speed made his league debut for Leeds on 6th May, 1989 in a goalless draw with Oldham Athletic at Elland Road in the old Second Division.
Speed went on to play 840 matches and score 134 goals during a career that spanned five clubs - Leeds (312 games, 57 goals), Everton (65, 17), Newcastle (284, 40), Bolton (139, 14) and Sheffield United (40, six).
Speed also excelled at international level where he became Wales' most-capped outfield player (85 matches, seven goals).
Only goalkeeper Neville Southall has more caps (92) and the midfielder was recommended for the manager's job by Mark Hughes when he stepped down in 2004.
"I played all the way through the representative sides, but was not picked for Wales Schoolboys at under-15 level,'' Speed said recently.
"I thought at the time that my career was over, but, from that Wales Under-15 team, only Chris Coleman made it through to full honours. It is something I always impress on youngsters today.
"The best advice I was given was to try your best, and remember you never stop learning. I was still learning about the game when I retired from playing.''
He has become a regular studio presenter and commentator on Sky Sports and makes numerous other television and radio appearances on programmes such as 'A Question of Sport' and 'They Think It's All Over'.
Speed is in the process of writing his autobiography and also a collaboration with his business partner Jamil Qureshi on the psychology of achievement in football.
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