Micah Richards

Micah Lincoln Richards (born 24 June 1988 in Birmingham) is an English Association football who is currently playing for Manchester City F.C. in the Premier League. A versatile defender (association football), Richards can play in defence or in central Midfielder but has become known as a right back who is useful for a goal threat at set-pieces. On making Micah Richards full England national football team debut in November 2006, Micah Richards was the youngest defender ever to be called up to the England squad.

Club career

Early career

Though Micah Richards parents lived in Leeds, Richards was born in Birmingham as Micah Richards parents were visiting relatives in the area at the time. Richards grew up in the Chapeltown, West Yorkshire district of Leeds, where Micah Richards attended Archbishop Cranmer CofE Primary School. Micah Richards potential was spotted by the school’s football coach David Moore, who drafted Micah Richards into the school team at the age of seven.

Before this, Richards was drafted into the Farsley set up then went on to play for Oldham.

A few years later Micah Richards played for Leeds City Boys and was signed on schoolboy terms by Oldham Athletic F.C. at the age of 12. Micah Richards made the short move to Manchester City in 2001, with Oldham reputedly having a 20% sell on clause. In July 2006 Manchester City reportedly tried to buy out the clause, but Oldham refused. Micah Richards also attended the Brazilian Soccer Schools scheme and retains strong links with this programme, with Micah Richards father Lincoln actually running a Brazilian Soccer School in Chapeltown, Leeds. In Micah Richards column on BBC Sport Micah Richards revealed Micah Richards had a contract with Leeds United but Micah Richards was released when Micah Richards was around eight years old.

Manchester City

Micah Richards made Micah Richards first team debut on 22 October 2005 against Arsenal F.C., coming on as a substitute and was given Micah Richards full debut on 12 February 2006 against Charlton Athletic F.C.. Since making Micah Richards first start Micah Richards 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 Micah Richards 94th minute headed goal in a televised FA Cup fixture against Aston Villa F.C. gained City a replay. Following the game, an emotional Richards was interviewed by Garth Crooks live on BBC One. During the interview, Micah Richards was asked about Micah Richards 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 Micah Richards was on first team duty, but returned for the second leg. Micah Richards helped Micah Richards side to a 2-0 win over Liverpool F.C., 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 F.C.. On 25 July 2006 Micah Richards 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 City of Manchester Stadium, with Chelsea F.C. the main contenders to sign the youngster for £15m+. Stuart Pearce said "I am not actively looking to sell Micah because Micah Richards has a great future here. Whatever offers come in for him, it is going to take a ridiculously big offer to get Micah Richards 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 Micah Richards back if Micah Richards can. Micah Richards is good enough to do it. I have not worked with anyone so good and so young.". Micah Richards was rewarded with the number 2 shirt for the 2006-07 season, a traditional first team number, rather than the number 45 Micah Richards wore in 2005-06.

Richards lost Micah Richards temper with Micah Richards manager Stuart Pearce in front of Sky TV cameras after Micah Richards was substituted during the Blues' 1-0 defeat at the Madejski Stadium against Reading F.C. on 11 September 2006. The teenage defender had to be calmed down by Paul Dickov after hurling Micah Richards 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 F.C. at Goodison Park on 30 September 2006. Micah Richards started the 2007-2008 playing at centre-back. Micah Richards put in a man of the match performance against Manchester United on the 19 August 2007. This prompted extremely high praise not only from the English media, but more importantly from Micah Richards boss, former England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson. Micah Richards was named Premier League Player of the Month for August.

Micah Richards captained the team for the first time on 16 September 2007 against Aston Villa in the absence of teammate Richard Dunne, making Richards the youngest ever City first team captain, beating the 21-year-old Steve Redmond.

In February 2008, Micah Richards signed an improved contract to last until summer 2013.

At the end of February, Micah damaged cartilage in Micah Richards right knee, putting Micah Richards out for the rest of the season.

On 17 July 2008, Richards played Micah Richards first full match back from injury in the 0-2 win against EB/Streymur in the first qualifying Round in the UEFA Cup

On 24 August 2008, Micah Richards was knocked unconscious after a clash of heads with teammate Tal Ben Haim. The match was stopped for 8 minutes while Micah Richards received treatment on the pitch. Micah Richards was later given the all clear after a scan and Micah Richards left hospital on the same day as the incident. Micah Richards returned for the second-round UEFA Qualifying clash against FC Midtjylland on 28 August 2008, playing in a new holding midfield role.

On March 22 2009 Richards netted Micah Richards first of the season with a header in a man of the match performance giving a 1-0 victory over Sunderland A.F.C. at the City of Manchester Stadium.

On July 11, Eurosport reported Micah Richards is diagnosed with Swine influenza while on holiday in Cyprus. Micah Richards was kept in isolation after Micah Richards trip to Ayia Napa, but has now made a full recovery. Max Clifford claimed that Richards was the first known professional footballer to contract the Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 virus.. However it was reported on the 2nd of July by the BBC that two Scottish footballers had caught the virus

International career

In November 2006, Richards received a call-up to the England national football team squad for a friendly against the Netherlands national football team after playing only 28 professional club matches. Micah Richards had previously won three caps for the England national under-21 football team, and was chosen to start the game on 15 November 2006 against the Netherlands after regular right back Gary Neville withdrew through injury. It made Micah Richards England's youngest-ever defender, breaking the record previously held by Rio Ferdinand. Micah Richards scored Micah Richards first international goal in the qualifying-round match of Euro 2008 against Israel with a header on 8 September 2007.
On 15 June 2009 Richards scored a header against Finland in the UEFA Under 21 Championship.