The Real Graeme Souness
Graeme Souness, a celebrated football figure and charity advocate, recently received a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) honor at Windsor Castle. His recognition came not only for his remarkable football career but also for his tireless charity work, which has allowed the world to see “the real me.”
Known for his tenacity on the pitch, Souness played for and later managed both Rangers and Liverpool, securing five league titles and three European Cups during his illustrious playing career. His contributions to football are legendary, but it's his ongoing work in charity that has taken center stage in recent years.
Souness, who represented Scotland in three World Cups, has dedicated the last six years to raising awareness for epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a rare skin condition that causes the skin to blister and tear at the slightest touch. As vice president of Debra UK, Souness has become an unwavering voice for those suffering from the condition.
Last year, he participated in a swim across the English Channel to raise funds, contributing to a £1.5 million total for research into the disease. In his words, "You’ve seen a real me I’m not someone who’s pumped up with adrenaline, wanting to go to war with everyone on a football pitch, that was my workplace. Now I’m trying to be a decent human being.”
The CBE award, which he received from the Prince of Wales on Tuesday, was a proud moment for Souness, but he insists that it is a collective effort. He regards his charity work as being just as significant as his football titles, saying the recognition is “up there with European Cups.”
Looking ahead, Souness has no plans to return to football management or punditry. Instead, his energy is focused on raising more funds and awareness for EB. His next challenge involves swimming the Channel again and then cycling from Dover to Westminster in May. “Every day is a groundhog day for them, they suffer unimaginable pain,” he said. “This is about raising awareness and raising money for Debra.”
During his investiture ceremony, Souness shared a light-hearted conversation with the Prince of Wales, a devoted Aston Villa fan, about Premier League football. “He’s still hurting a wee bit from my team (Liverpool) beating his team last weekend,” Souness joked, “but I reassured him that Villa are certainly on the right path.”
