Micah Richards has been one of the most popular pundits in the UK since retiring from football in 2019, but the former England defender has now shared his plans to quit TV
Micah Richards has stunned fans by admitting he intends to quit football punditry.
The former Manchester City, Aston Villa and England star has emerged as one of football’s most beloved broadcasters since retiring in 2019, captivating audiences with his contagious laughter and effortless rapport with fellow pundits. Richards is now a recognisable presence across the BBC, Sky Sports and CBS Sports.
The 38-year-old ex-right-back also co-presents the enormously popular The Rest Is Football podcast alongside Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, with Netflix reportedly paying a £14million fee to broadcast the programme during this summer’s FIFA World Cup in North America.
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Despite relishing a highly profitable second career in media, Richards maintains he has no desire to remain on television indefinitely and wishes to depart while he remains at the peak of his profession. “I’ll be out of all this by the time I turn 46,” he told The Telegraph, reports the Mirror.
“You won’t see me on any mainstream media beyond the 2034 World Cup. That will be the last time I am on the BBC or Sky or CBS. I’ve told them all this and they think I’m joking. I’m not.”
Instead, Richards expressed his desire to utilise this phase of his career to assist those less privileged than himself. “I’ve devoted so much of my life to football since leaving school at 14, but when the time comes, I want to make a difference to people’s lives at a grassroots level – to help those who need it most, especially young people,” he stated.
“I hail from Chapeltown in Leeds. It’s an area brimming with talent, but lacking in opportunities. I want to give something back. That’s my goal. I’ve no clue what shape that will take, yet. There’s ample time to figure that out.
“You see numerous ex-footballers attaching their names to foundations, which is commendable, but I aspire to do more than just donate money to charity or make a once-a-year appearance at an event. Hopefully, I can continue doing what I’m doing for the next seven years – and just ensure I don’t get cancelled before then!”.
The former Manchester City and England defender has earned a tidy sum since hanging up his boots. According to Football FanCast, the ex-Manchester City and England defender boasts an estimated net worth of around £37m, having combined his substantial playing income with a successful career as a pundit.
The BBC’s most recent report in 2021/22 revealed he pocketed around £200,000 during that period for his contributions to Match of the Day, though his income from the corporation has not hit the £178,000 disclosure limit since, and his fees from Sky Sports and CBS Sports remain undisclosed. Richards has previously quipped that his numerous broadcasting roles are partly due to one expensive mistake he made as a player.
“At 17 years old, I earned £5k-a-week. Manchester City offered me £100k-a-week for five years. I said no because I was number two to [Pablo] Zabaleta. It’s the worst decision I’ve ever made,” he said. “Why do you think I work for every broadcaster? I went to Aston Villa, that was less money.”