Micah Richards opens up about ‘guilt’ of ‘picking work over family’ and says he plans to retire by age 45

Micah Richards said he is planning to retire in 10 years to prioritize his loved ones after years of ‘choosing work above family’, both as a former player and as a broadcaster.

“I am retired in 10 years because the debt I have with myself are not for the people who had given me the chance to do what I had to do. I choose work above family,” said Richards in the last episode of Kickin ‘It on CBS Sports Golazo Network. “I have a goal. My goal is to reach 45, to do the best thing I can do and then I am gone. I am out of the game.”

Richards, an analyst for the UEFA Champions League reporting of CBS Sports and a Premier League champion at Manchester City, described the sacrifices he made in football as a player and broadcaster.

“Since I made my debut when I was, what, 17, I have been on my way, debut in England,” he said. “The way my career ended, I immediately went into Punditry. The amount of birthdays I missed, the number of Christmas days I missed, the amount of just good conversations I missed with people.”

He mentioned his relationship with his father, who was originally from Saint Kitts and Nevis, as an example, of which he said it refused in the last phases of his career before he retired at the age of 31 in 2019.

“My father was, without sagging, just like my best friend. He had been to every game, he had been to every training session,” said Richards. “When my career started to fall, the relationship between me and him was just on – I don’t even know the right words to put because you always speak to your parents, but in terms of always being with them and then we are just very broken. … in my culture where I come from, the love you get in a different way.” I love you, son. ” It’s just that they are there, you know? “

Richards, 36, said he tells the story now because his father “is not doing well”, which has changed their relationship in some ways.

“[I] Go to the hospital, it’s the first time I have seen my father cry. He is 60-eaves [years old]”Said Richards.” He cried. He said, ‘I’m sorry. My apologies. I will look myself up. No problem.’ … I just feel [that] He felt ashamed. I had a conversation and I said to him, “I’m sorry I am not there.” I am sorry, not in terms of financial but only that support. “

The ex-England International also said that his relationship with his father has also changed after the birth of his own son.

“I have an eight -year -old son and if you are a parent, all your love, affection, go into time and you know me,” said Richards. “I want to be the best I can be if it’s punditry, whether it’s football, whether it’s now [being a] Parent and since I had my son, all my energy has been in him and my father, I feel sorry for him because he has given me so much, but I feel that it is being turned around now and I have left him in the background. The reason I tell you all this is because I have lost two or three years. “

Making good time, he said, is the main reason why he wants to call time on his temporary employment career in a decade.

“I will tell you now, I am retired in 10 years because the debt I have with myself, are not for the people who had given me the chance to do what I had to do. I choose work above family,” said Richards. “I believe that if I was more with my father, this would not have happened and people will say,” Well, you can’t blame yourself, “but I do.”

‘I don’t like the lifestyle of football’

Although his son loves football, Richards also said that he does not want his son to go into his footsteps because of the new reality of a public figure in the era of social media.

“I don’t like the lifestyle of football,” he said. “I don’t feel that it is a real world. I think there is too much pressure. I feel that social media have worked incredibly well for us, especially our show so well … But there is too much pressure for the football players nowadays. When I got through, yes, many players were released and I was less lonely life, being a football player.”