Micah Richards has informed his employers at the BBC, Sky Sports and CBS that he plans to leave football punditry by 2034, aiming to focus on grassroots community work. The former Manchester City right-back, now 38, says he will step away from mainstream media after the 2034 World Cup.
Richards Sets 2034 Deadline
Richards, who has become one of the most recognisable faces in football media since retiring in 2019, currently works on the BBC's World Cup coverage, appears regularly on Gary Lineker's The Rest Is Football podcast (the sixth-most popular podcast in the UK), and contributes to Sky Sports and CBS during the regular season. He told the Daily Telegraph: "I'll be out of all this by the time I turn 46. 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 Helping Others
Richards intends to use the next stage of his career to help disadvantaged young people. "I've given so much of my life to football since leaving school at 14," he added. "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. 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 emphasised he wants to do more than just donate money: "You see a lot of ex-footballers putting their names to foundations, 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."
Financial Background
Richards has built substantial wealth since retiring. According to Football FanCast, his estimated net worth is around £37 million, combining his playing earnings with punditry income. The BBC's 2021/22 report showed he earned approximately £200,000 that year for his work on Match of the Day, though his earnings have not exceeded the £178,000 disclosure threshold since. His salaries from Sky Sports and CBS Sports have not been made public.
