Micah Richards has revealed his intention to retire from television punditry within the next eight years, stating he will leave all mainstream media roles by the time he turns 46. The 38-year-old former Manchester City and England defender, who has become one of football's most popular broadcasters since retiring in 2019, shared his plans in an interview with The Telegraph.
Richards Sets 2034 World Cup as Final Broadcast
Richards, known for his infectious laugh and chemistry with fellow pundits, currently works across BBC, Sky Sports, and CBS Sports. He also co-hosts the successful podcast The Rest Is Football alongside Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, which Netflix reportedly paid £14 million to stream during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Despite his lucrative second career, Richards insists he wants to step away while still at the top of his game. “I’ll be out of all this by the time I turn 46,” he told The Telegraph. “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.”
Focus on Grassroots Community Work
Richards said he wants to use the next stage of his career to help those less fortunate, particularly young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. “I’ve given 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 said. “I come from Chapeltown in Leeds. It’s an area where there is so much talent, but a shortage of opportunity. I want to give something back. That’s my aim. I’ve no idea what form that will take, yet. There’s plenty of time to work that out.” He added that he wants to do more than just lend his name to a foundation: “You see a lot of ex-footballers putting their names to foundation, which is great, but I want to do something more than giving money to charity or showing my face at an event once a year. Hopefully I can keep doing what I am doing for the next seven years – and just make sure I don’t get cancelled before then!”
Financial Background and Playing Career Regret
According to Football FanCast, Richards has an estimated net worth of around £37 million, combining his playing earnings with his punditry work. The BBC’s 2021/22 report showed he earned approximately £200,000 that year for his work on Match of the Day, though his subsequent earnings have not reached the £178,000 disclosure threshold. His salaries from Sky Sports and CBS Sports have not been made public. Richards has previously joked that his extensive broadcasting commitments stem from a costly decision during his playing career. “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.”
