Micah Richards founded successful 'side business' when he was 18 that is now worth millions

Micah Richards opened up a side business at the age of just 18 that has reportedly earned him millions of pounds.

The Sky Sports and BBC pundit retired from football at the age of 31 due to knee injuries.

During his playing career, he represented Manchester City and Fiorentina - winning a Premier League title with the former in 2012 - before a spell at Aston Villa.

After hanging up his boots in 2019, Richards began a media career, and has become one of English football's most renowned pundits across a range of different broadcasters.

As well as his Sky Sports and BBC work, he is also part of the popular CBS Sports punditry trio that consists of himself, Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry.

While that work earns him good money, Richards has also opened up about a 'side business' that has earned him significant sums.

Revealing all to co-hosts Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer on an episode of 'The Rest is Football' in December, he explained: "When football's finished, you've got nothing to fall back on. There is [life after football].

"I started a property company when I was 18. When things weren't going right, or even when things were going right, I had a distraction from football 24/7.

"I was building up my property portfolio, I started doing developments around the Leeds and Manchester area. It just gave me a purpose after football.

"I didn't know I was going to be a pundit after football. The way my career ended, I didn't want to be anywhere near football.

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"But having that other thing to turn to, in my case property, it really did help in terms of having a schedule and giving me that work balance. It was really good for me."

The Daily Star claimed that Richards' property portfolio grew to be worth £5 million, with a source also claiming to the outlet that he was called 'Mr Monopoly' by friends due to his successes.

In 2021, the former Manchester City defender revealed that Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier was renting one of his houses in Harrogate - jokingly added that he would not be criticising him on-air as a result.

Meslier is currently competing in the Championship play-offs with Leeds, who are taking on Norwich over two legs in the semi-final.