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

Micah Richards has opened up on the 'side business' he opened at the age of just 18 that has since reportedly earned him millions.

The current Sky Sports and BBC pundit won the Premier League title with Manchester City in 2012, but was forced to retire from football at the age of 31 due to knee injuries.

After hanging up his boots, Richards entered the media world - and has since become one of English football's most popular pundits.

Speaking on a recent episode of 'The Rest is Football', meanwhile, Richards revealed to co-hosts Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer that he has also earned significant money from a 'side business'.

He explained: "When football's finished, you've got nothing to fall back on. There is [a lot of 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.

"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."

In 2020, the Daily Star reported that Richards' property portfolio grew to be worth £5 million - and a source claimed to the outlet that he was jokingly dubbed 'Mr Monopoly' among some of his friends.

The source said: "Micah has been investing in property for years and some of the places he bought years ago went for a song.

"He's always been smart with his cash. People joke he's got more addresses than a Monopoly board."

In 2021, Richards revealed that Leeds goalkeeper Ilian Meslier was renting one of his houses in Harrogate - jokingly adding that he would not be criticising him on-air as a result.