Micah Richards
Full name Micah Richards
Team Manchester City
Position Defender
Number 2
Date of birth 24 June 1988 (age 19)
Height 1.8 m
Youth Clubs
2000-2001Oldham Athletic
2001-2005 Manchester City
Senior Club
2005-Manchester City 53(1)
National Team
2005-2006 England U21 3(0)
2006-England 11 (1)
Richards was born in Birmingham as his Kittitian parents were visiting relatives in the area at the time, but grew up in the Chapeltown district of Leeds. He attended Archbishop Cranmer CofE Primary School and his potential was immediately spotted by the school’s football coach David Moore, who drafted him into the school team at the age of seven. His boyhood team were Arsenal and his all-time favorite players are Ian Wright and Patrick Vieira.
A few years later he played for Leeds City Boys. He went to Wetherby High, near Leeds, and was signed on schoolboy terms by Oldham Athletic at the age of 12. He made the short move to Manchester City in 2001, with Oldham Athletic reputedly having a 20% sell on clause. In July 2006 Manchester City reportedly tried to buy out the clause, but Oldham refused.He also attended the Brazilian Soccer Schools scheme and retains strong links with this programme, with his father Lincoln actually running a Brazilian Soccer School in Chapeltown, Leeds.
International career
In November 2006, Richards received a call-up to the England squad for a friendly against the Netherlands after playing only 28 professional club matches. He had previously won three caps for the England under 21 team, and was chosen to start the game on November 15, 2006 against the Netherlands after regular right back Gary Neville withdrew through injury. It made him England's youngest-ever defender, breaking the record previously held by Rio Ferdinand. He scored his first international goal in the qualifying-round match of Euro 2008 against Israel with a header on September 8, 2007.
Manchester City
He made his first team debut on October 22, 2005 against Arsenal, coming on as a substitute and was given his full debut on February 12, 2006 against Charlton Athletic. Since making his first start he has played in the majority of Manchester City's matches, and was named as the club's Young Player of the Year for the 2005-06 season.
Richards came to national prominence when his 94th minute headed goal in a televised FA Cup fixture against Aston Villa gained City a replay. Following the game, an emotional Richards was interviewed by Garth Crooks live on BBC One. During the interview, he was asked about his goal and used the phrase "fucking hell", and then continued with the interview. At the end of the interview, host Gary Lineker apologised to the televised audience and put it down to "the inexperience of the young lad".
During the 2005-06 season, Richards captained the Manchester City youth team which reached the final of the FA Youth Cup. Richards missed the first leg of the final as he was on first team duty, but returned for the second leg. He helped his side to a 2-0 win over Liverpool, but Liverpool youth won the trophy 3-2 on aggregate.
In July 2006, Manchester City rejected a bid of £5m for Richards from Tottenham Hotspur. On July 25, 2006 he signed a new four-year contract, quashing rumours of a move away from the City of Manchester Stadium. Throughout 2007, Richards was linked with a big money move away from Eastlands, with Chelsea the main contenders to sign the youngster for £15m+. Stuart Pearce said "I am not actively looking to sell Micah because he has a great future here. Whatever offers come in for him, it is going to take a ridiculously big offer to get him out of this football club.I would love to see Micah stay here, captain the club, and maybe be here for 10 years and carry the club on his back if he can. He is good enough to do it. I have not worked with anyone so good and so young.". He was rewarded with the number 2 shirt for the 2006-07 season, a traditional first team number, rather than the number 45 he wore in 2005-06.
Richards lost his temper with his manager Stuart Pearce in front of Sky TV cameras after he was substituted during the Blues' 1-0 defeat at the Madejski Stadium against Reading on September 11, 2006. The teenage defender had to be calmed down by Paul Dickov after hurling his shirt out of the dug-out and following it up with a volley of abuse.
Richards' second City goal was also an injury time equaliser - this time in a 1-1 draw with Everton at Goodison Park on September 30, 2006. He started the 2007-2008 playing at centre-back. He put in a man of the match performance against Manchester United on the August 19, 2007. This prompted extremely high praise not only from the English media, but more importantly from his boss, former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson.
He captained the team for the first time on the September 16, 2007 against Aston Villa in the absence of team mate Richard Dunne, possibly making Richards the youngest ever City first team captain, beating the 21-year-old Steve Redmond.
Videos
My comments on Micah Richards Definitely one of the best young defenders in the world.Would surely welcome him here.He can play in defence or in central midfield, but has become known as a right back who is useful for a goal threat at set-pieces.