He heads a list of high-profile sporting names to be honoured which also includes five-time world snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and two-time Tour de France winner Chris Froome. Belfast’s IBF super-bantamweight boxing champion

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McCoy said: “It is an unbelievable privilege and honour to receive a knighthood in the New Year Honours List. I certainly wasn’t expecting it.

“I consider myself lucky to have had a job I loved, every single day. The team around me made it possible for me to achieve my goals and the support from the public and racing community since my retirement has been overwhelming.

“A knighthood really tops off what’s been a crazy and memorable year.”

McCoy’s first winner came with Legal Steps at Thurles in March 1992, while Capard King gave him a final triumph over jumps at Ayr on April 17 this year.

McCoy was appointed MBE in the 2003 Queen’s Birthday Honours and OBE in the 2010 Birthday Honours list.

He is only the second jockey in history to have been awarded a knighthood, with Gordon Richards the first in 1953.

Tony McCoy’s racing career by numbers

• Career winners: 4,358
• Centuries: 20
• Double centuries: 9
• Champion jockey titles: 20
• Total number of weeks as champion: 1,040
• Most winners in a season: 289
• Cheltenham Festival wins: 31
• Cheltenham Gold Cup wins: 2
• Grand National wins: 1

McCoy’s fellow awardee O’Sullivan said in 2014 he was not interested in such honours, telling Eurosport: “I don’t feel like I’ve achieved anything to warrant an MBE.”

However he is awarded an OBE for services to snooker, and has had a change of heart.

The 40-year-old said: “I am extremely grateful for this recognition which is a great honour and has made both myself and my family very proud.

“It came as a great surprise to receive my OBE and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all my family, friends and fans who have supported me throughout my career and made this achievement possible.”

Froome said he was “extremely humbled and proud” to also be made an OBE after he became the first Briton to win cycling’s premier road race the Tour de France on two occasions with his victory in July.

Football Association director Heather Rabbatts – who became the FA’s first female board member in 2012 – has been made a dame for services to football and equality.

Manchester United and Scotland great Denis Law and Manchester City’s former forward Francis Lee, who was later a chairman of the club, each receive the CBE for services to football and charity.

Sporting Honours in full

Knighthood

Mr Anthony Peter McCOY OBE, for services to horse racing (Hungerford, Berkshire)

Damehood

Ms Heather Victoria RABBATTS CBE, for public service and services to football and equality (Lower Hardres, Kent)

Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

Mr Denis LAW, for services to football and charity (Altrincham, Cheshire)

Mr Francis LEE, for services to football and charity (Wilmslow, Cheshire)

Mr John SURTEES OBE, for services to motor sport (Lingfield, Surrey)

Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Ms Susan BARKER MBE, for services to broadcasting and charity (Stanton, Gloucestershire)

Mr Christopher Clive FROOME, for services to cycling

Mr Robert Ellis HOWDEN, for services to cycling (Wakefield, West Yorkshire)

Mr Ronald Antonio O’SULLIVAN, for services to snooker (Chigwell, Essex)

Mr Paul William OWEN, for services to canoeing (Wargrave, Berkshire)

Mrs Catherine Mary SABIN, for services to tennis (Much Wenlock, Shropshire)

Mrs Christine Anne WELLINGTON MBE, for services to sport and charity (Bristol)

Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

Mrs Yvonne Janet ANDERSON, for services to the Special Olympics (Roslin, Midlothian)

Mr Ian Hugh BEGGS, for services to rugby (Belfast)

Mr James Ebenezer CALLANDER, for voluntary services to athletics (Dumfries)

Mr Mark CUETO, for services to rugby (Altrincham, Cheshire)

Mrs Janice Carol EAGLESHAM, for services to disability sport (Cambuslang, Glasgow)

Mr Roger Arnold FENNEMORE, for services to sport (Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire)

Mr Carl FRAMPTON, for services to boxing (London)

Hon Heather Margaret Anne Galloway GALBRAITH, for services to equestrianism (Mauchline, Ayrshire and Arran)

Mrs Pamela Bruce GALLANT, for services to people with special needs, particularly through sport (Aberdeen)

Mr Roy HARRISON, for voluntary service to cricket in Northern Ireland (Craigavon, Armagh)

Miss Stephanie Jayne HOUGHTON, for services to football (Shotton Colliery, Durham)

Mrs Gaynor JONES, for voluntary service to golf and the development of women’s golf in Wales (Mold, Flintshire)

Mr Brian Russell LEE, for services to football (Lane End, Buckinghamshire)

Mrs Dianne McMILLAN, for services to swimming and disability awareness (Larne, Antrim)

Mr Stephen James MILLER, for services to sport (Cramlington, Northumberland)

Mr Ian MIRFIN, for services to disability sport (Cambuslang, Glasgow)

Mr Cargin Nevil MOSS, for services to taekwondo (Little Billing, Northamptonshire)

Ms Tracey NEVILLE, for services to netball (Hitchin, Hertfordshire)

Ms Jacqueline Anne OATLEY, for services to broadcasting and diversity in sport (Esher, Surrey)

Mr Ronald Denham WEBSTER, for services to tennis in Scotland (Crail, Fife)

Mrs Anne WHITWORTH, for services to hockey in the north-east (Guisborough, North Yorkshire)

Miss Fara WILLIAMS, for services to women’s football and charity (Liverpool, Merseyside)