Niall Quinn is to receive an honorary degree from Sunderland University.
The Ireland international will receive an Honorary Fellowship at a ceremony later this month.
He has recently been made a player coach with Sunderland - whom he joined in 1996 - after returning from his performance with the Republic in the World Cup.
He has now retired from the international game after winning more than 90 caps
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Quinn donated gate receipts from a testimonial game at Sunderland's Stadium of Light to children's charities in Dublin, Wearside and Calcutta.
"Niall Quinn is one of football's most respected figures," a university spokesman said.