Former Manchester City star Micah Richards has revealed when he plans to retire from punditry as "guilt" continues to gnaw at him.
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Richards enjoys successful careerNow a popular TV punditPlans when he will retireFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The CBS Sports Golazo pundit, 36, has admitted that he wants to step back from football punditry when he turns 45. The ex-defender cited how his relationship with his father declined in the latter stages of his career before he retired from the game in 2019. And Richards stressed he does not want that to happen with his nearest and dearest.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT RICHARDS SAID
He said on CBS' Kickin' It show: "I'm retiring in 10 years because the guilt that I have with myself not being there for the people who give me the opportunity to do what I needed to do. I'm picking work over family and especially as a man, it might be different as a woman, everyone thinks everything's always rosy but it is rosy when I am at work because CBS gives me that purpose, that energy. There are two sides to me. I'm always happy and positive and I always try to do the best. I try to life people up and that's why I believe if I was with my dad more this wouldn't have happened. People say you can't blame yourself but I do. I don't want this to be sad, I don't want people to feel sorry for me, I am just sharing experience that people probably wouldn't know about me."
He added: "I've got a goal. My goal is to get to 45, do the best I can possibly do and then I'm out. I'm out of the game. I'm not bothered about the limelight.
"My dad was, without being cringe, like my best friend. He'd been to every game, he'd been to every training session. When my career started declining, the relationship between me and him was just getting – I don't even know the right words to articulate because you always speak to your parents, don't you, but in terms of being with them all the time and then, we just became very disconnected."
THE BIGGER PICTURE
After making a name for himself as a footballer and then a pundit, Richards is likely to be in a position where he can step away from the sport and do what is best for him and his family. Many will certainly miss his infectious laugh and enthusiasm, though.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
In the short term, Richards is likely to be back doing CBS Sports Golazo punditry for the Champions League semi-finals next week.