Popular TV star Micah Richards has announced plans to step away from punditry.
The former Manchester City and England defender, now a well-known broadcaster, said he intends to retire from television work by the time he turns 46, after the 2034 FIFA World Cup.
Richards has become a familiar face on the BBC and Sky Sports since retiring from football in 2019, earning a reputation for his infectious laugh and on-screen chemistry with fellow pundits.
He also appears regularly on CBS Sports and co-hosts The Rest Is Football podcast alongside Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer.
Micah Richard reveals plans to leave BBC, Sky Sports and CBS
"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."
Richards has featured on many sports-related TV shows and podcasts, such as live broadcasts of football on Sky Sports, football coverage on the BBC's Match of the Day, and Sky's comedy panel show A League of Their Own.
During his career, Richards played 295 games for Manchester City, Fiorentina and Aston Villa and won 13 England caps between 2006 and 2012.
He suffered from a persistent knee injury and was released from Aston Villa before deciding to retire.
Looking ahead to life after broadcasting, the former football star said he is eager to make an impact away from the cameras.
He said: "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 want to give something back.
"That’s my aim."
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He ruled out simply lending his name to a foundation or charity event, stressing: "I want to do something more than giving money to charity or showing my face at an event once a year."
Richards said he hopes to remain in punditry for the next seven years, joking that the only thing that could cut his career short sooner is if he gets "cancelled" before then.
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