Gary Lineker kills Micah Richards on Match of the Day with brutal dig on career

14 January 2024 , 11:46

832     0

Micah Richards was left in shock by Gary Lineker's cheeky remark (Image: BBC)

Gary Lineker left Micah Richards stunned after opening Match of the Day with a brutal remark about the ex-defender's playing career.

Saturday's edition of the BBC's flagship football show was shorter due to the Premier League's winter break. There are just five top-flight fixtures taking place this weekend - including two on Sunday - with the remaining five games pencilled in for next weekend.

As such, the BBC showed highlights of just three games on Saturday: Chelsea's 1-0 win against Fulham and Manchester City's 3-2 win at Newcastle, as well as Friday's 1-1 draw between Burnley and Luton. Lineker reviewed the action with Richards and Glenn Murray.

Lineker started the show by telling viewers: "The Premier League winter break means a shorter show. It's a Saturday night debut for Glenn Murray, alongside Micah Richards. Three games and 45 minutes coming up - a bit like your Aston Villa career, Micah."

Richards, who was smiling, looked shocked and simply said "wow" as everyone in the studio laughed. The Manchester City legend infamously joined Aston Villa in the summer of 2015 but played just 31 games for the club over the next four years due to injury.

Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush

Richards chalked up 28 of those appearances during his first season at Villa Park, such was the severity of his knee problem. He retired from football at the age of 31 in July 2019, having made his last professional appearance at the age of 28 in October 2016.

Lineker was only joking with his Match of the Day colleague (BBC)

Who is your favourite football pundit? Let us know in the comments below!

Richards is no stranger to receiving a hard time on TV. CBS Sports presenter Kate Abdo often destroys him during their coverage of the Champions League. Abdo and Richards are usually joined on the show by Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry.

Abdo has previously said: "Welcome along to our London studio. I'm Kate Abdo joined by Champions League winner with Barcelona, Thierry Henry, Champions League winner with Liverpool, Jamie Carragher, and the man who had a great view from the bench when Sergio Aguero won the Premier League for Manchester City, Big Meeks - Micah Richards."

Abdo was referring to City's famous last day win against QPR at the end of the 2011/12 season, a game that Richards was benched for. She has also described the former England international as "the man with five appearances in the Champions League".

But Richards enjoys the banter with Abdo and Lineker. The popular pundit shares a podcast with the latter and Alan Shearer called 'The Rest Is Football', which has become one of the most popular sports podcasts in the UK since it's launch last August.

Tom Blow