MICAH RICHARDS HAS announced his retirement from football at the age of 31.
Plagued by a persistent knee injury, the former England defender has been forced to call time on his professional career prematurely, having most recently been on the books at Aston Villa.
He came through the ranks at Manchester City and made his first-team debut as a 17-year-old back in October 2005. Richards went on to make 250 appearances for City over the decade that followed — winning the FA Cup in 2011 and the Premier League title a year later.
After a loan spell in Italy with Fiorentina, he joined Aston Villa in 2015 but after featuring prominently in his first season there, fitness issues have prevented him from being involved in recent years.
Richards, who is capped 13 times for England, last played in October 2016 and he was released by the Birmingham club this summer.
He will now take up an off-the-field role at Man City.
“I’m a footballer and I want to play football, but the knee would swell up to the point where I couldn’t even train properly,” Richards said, in a statement released by Man City. “I would have liked to have given Aston Villa more on the pitch, but it just wasn’t to be.
Villa is a fantastic club, a very big club in all senses of the word and a great source of pride to the supporters. They looked after me very well and I have nothing but positive words to say about boss Dean Smith who was very positive and inclusive.
“It was great to be back at Wembley for the play-off final and celebrate with the team. It didn’t look great at one point earlier in the campaign, but everyone came together to produce the best end possible to the season. I wish everyone all the best for the return to the Premier League.”
He added: “City has always been my spiritual home and where I enjoyed my best years as a player. Being part of the side that ended the long wait for silverware — in 2011 and 2012 — was very special. It kick-started this new era and the club has never looked back. What has happened since has been amazing.
“I feel lucky to have been asked back to help spread the City message and can’t wait to get going. I know it will be fun because City fans are incredible and always have been.”
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That will be mental!
What about the Scotland fans?
Should be a great occasion and atmosphere!
Ah lads, couldnt we go to Ibrox?
No guarantee it would till be “Ibrox” by then….. might belong to the Liquidators…..
Someone threw a pound on the pitch at ibrox and police are investigating whether it was a missile or a bid to buy the club :)
Pound? Bit steep for Rangers
Two home games for Ireland!
Well I’m sure the Celtic supporters will be supporting their own Country, right?
Do you think it will be a crowd made up of Irish and Celtic supporters only? Celtic supporters will support their own country anyway.
Majority of Celtic supporters support the Republic of Ireland……..
of course they will be supporting their own country, why would celtic fans in Glasgow want to support west liverchester?
Bollocks to the notion that the majority support Ireland
Surely the majority of Celtic Supporters born and raised in Scotland would support Scotland? Irish connection aside, they are a Scottish club so logic would suggest they’ll support their National side.
Exactly why would they want to support a country full of English fans
Barstoolers must be watering at the mouth, where is Glasgow in Ireland. EMBARRASSMENT”
Majority support scotland with a bit of a gra for Ireland. A smaill minority of hardcore support Ireland.
Hung if you haven’t got a breeze what you are talking about don’t comment
Where is Liverpool, Manchester, London or Newcastle in Ireland. The last time I checked there was no ban on people supporting which ever team they want to…………
Frankie Boyle will be delighted.
Can’t wait for it#COYBIG
Session on
Yeah once the session is on and we have the ‘craic’ sure the match itself is only secondary … Je*us wept
Screw the session chris, looks like someone thinks you’re one of the players.
Jackie Macs testimonial with a game against Ireland was fantastic, even the zombies stayed in hiding and didn’t cause any trouble, Glasgow truly was Green & White that weekend
More fans in the Scotland will know the words of the irish national anthem than in the irish end
Hail hail……..
not since celtic played arsenal in a CL qualifier a few years back has there been so many EPL fans packed into the away end at celtic park
Home from Home.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that now!
Scotland could be an independent country by the time the
match comes around, if they vote ” yes ” to leaving the U.K.
In the referendum in September.
They better make sure that they have the required license needed before they sell tickets
That joke was boring last week
Apparently street sellers in Glasgow have ordered hundreds of green St Georges cross flags that play the match of the day tune when you wave them for the ole ole brigade
Surprised they’ve not taken the opportunity to play some qualifiers in the Capital. Oh well, a train journey and a trip to dark head it is!
None of the stadiums are big enough, apart from the rugby one. I doubt the Scottish FA want to be knocking on their door when they have a bigger stadium in a city which cares more about football.
Why not? They’ve played Internationals in Easter Road before. Murrayfield is a nicer ground than any other in Scotland. It’s not a secret that the SFA will be paying Celtic and Sevco handsomely for use of the grounds, which they probably wouldn’t have had to do at Murrayfield. The chances of Celtic Park being filled are near enough 0 anyway.
Cares more about football? Tell that to any Hibs, Hearts or Aberdeen fan and they’ll tell you that’s rubbish. Supporting Celtic and “The” Rangers is the easy option in Scotland, just because they’ve more fans doesn’t mean Glasgow cares more about football.
The game is in Paradise not in the egg chasers ranch, dry your eyes and move on
That will be some shit game
That will be some sing off ( oh and match of course)