Graeme Souness said fundraising for charity allowed people to see “the real me” as he was appointed CBE at Windsor Castle.

Souness, both a player and manager for Rangers and Liverpool, was honored on Tuesday for his services to football and charity by the Prince of Wales.

The Scot represented his country at three World Cups and won five league titles and three European Cups with the Reds before later spending time as a pundit.

But he is also vice president of Debra UK which raises awareness of epidermolysis bullosa (EB), a group of genetic skin conditions that cause blisters and tears in the skin with the slightest touch.

He began working with the charity six years ago and helped raise £1.5 million to continue his research when he took part in a swimming challenge across the English Channel last year.

Souness told the PA news agency: “I think when you go to work, whatever work you do, you become a very different person to who you actually are, certainly in the demands of running the football and being a football player.

“I’m an emotional man, and when I get involved with this charity and when I’m with these poor kids, I get emotional.

“Now that I have been involved for six years, I now understand: I understand the plight of these children, and that pushes me to do more for them if I can.

“You saw the real me – I’m not someone who’s pumped up on adrenaline and wants to go to war with everyone on a football field, that was my workplace. Now I try to be a decent human being.

Souness said becoming a CBE was “always a team effort” shared with fellow fundraisers Debra and ranked among her greatest achievements, putting it “right up there with the European Cups”.

Asked if the door was firmly closed to a possible return to football management or a punditry role, Souness said he was focusing on his next Debra fundraising event, another crossing swim across the English Channel before cycling from Dover to Westminster in May.

“The aim is to raise more awareness and hopefully raise a similar amount of money. We need to make it known that these children have no light at the end of the tunnel.

“Every day is groundhog day for them, they are suffering unimaginable pain and of course there is a mental aspect too.

“That’s where my focus is at the moment – it’s not about getting back to football. I’ve been there, I’ve ticked that box. It’s about raising awareness and fundraising for Debra.

Souness said he discussed Premier League football with William, a keen Aston Villa fan, at his investiture ceremony.

He said: “He’s still a little bit hurt from my team’s (Liverpool) win against his team last weekend, but I’ve reassured him that Villa are certainly on the right track.”