Micah Richards has taken the football world by storm since his debut for Manchester City in October 2005, with critics around the world hailing the versatile youngster’s revolutionary style due in part to his athleticism, ability and maturity. Since then, Micah has gone on to establish himself as an England regular and vice captain of Manchester City despite his tender years, testament to his rapid rise within the game. Micah is also heavily involved in several charitable projects , using his growing reputation to the benefit of the less-privileged.
Micah Lincoln Richards was born on the 24th June 1988 during a family trip to Birmingham, but he in fact grew up in the Chapeltown area of Leeds.
At nursery, Micah showed glimpses of the potential that would serve him so well in his later years, kicking a ball around at the tender age of 18 months. Such initial talent helped a passionate and devoted youngster earn a place in primary and secondary school teams beyond his years, and by the age of seven Micah was a regular in his school’s Under 11 side. Indeed, his time at Archbishop Primary caught the attention of David Moore, who helped to run the school’s football team and has remained a guide to Micah throughout his early years as a professional footballer.
It was not long before local amateur sides took note of his ability, and Micah was ushered into Leeds City Boys. At Wetherby High School, Micah continued to combine his academic studies with the time he spent honing the skills required to succeed in professional football, often seeing the youngster train for four hours after a six hour day at school
Surprisingly, Micah was released by Leeds United shortly before his ninth birthday, but what was a disappointment at the time proved to a major factor in his footballing development. The event sparked a fresh wave of determination in Micah and, under the guidance of his father Lincoln, the talented youth continued to invest hours each day on developing his game, with training at the local Brazilian Soccer School cultivating the potential he had already demonstrated.
At the age of 12, Oldham Athletic recognised the talent that Micah possessed, forcing the youngster into committing his efforts to the club and relinquishing his place for Leeds City Boys. Despite the new and professional environment Micah found himself in, the versatile hopeful was quickly drawing the plaudits from the club’s coaches and playing staff after a string of impressive performances in training and matches. Inevitably, it was not long before Premier League clubs began to circle, though the oblivious devotee kept his focus on the pitch and left the logistical affairs to his father, Lincoln.
Micah eventually completed a move to Manchester City, meaning that his current commuting arrangement could continue without too much further inconvenience to his family. Such was Oldham’s belief in his potential that part of the deal taking Micah to their top-flight neighbours saw the outfit secure a sell-on clause which would see the club earn a percentage of any future transfers
Eventually, Micah opted to move into supplied accommodation in South Manchester which would allow an increase in the amount of training he was able to do with the club. Regular phone calls to mother and father, Heather and Lincoln, were made as the youngster got used to living away from home, but on the playing side Micah was demonstrating an unheard of assurance, appearing as though he had years of professional experience as he quickly adapted to his new surroundings.
As expected, Stuart Pearce and his staff were monitoring Micah’s situation. His versatility was identified, with Micah appearing up-front, in midfield and latterly defence for the second-string which demonstrated a full repertoire of attributes. A series of fine displays for City’s reserve side saw the then 17-year old named captain for the 2005-06 campaign, though the manager already had first-team plans for his new prodigy.
Micah’s domestic progress was receiving international recognition, with Micah receiving a call up to the England Under 16s for the Victory Shield in 2003. Despite his tender years – Micah was aged 15 during this period – and the fact that he was appearing in his first ever international match, Micah demonstrated his self-assurance when introduced to proceedings in the 67th minute, netting the side’s fourth with his head as the side romped to a 4-0 victory over Northern Ireland. The youngster’s popularity was underlined by the arrival of 82 of Micah’s classmates from Wetherby High School, supervised by his former physical education teacher Mr King who had been a long-standing support to the aspiring footballer throughout his years in secondary education.
Over the subsequent six months, Micah cemented his place in the England Under 16 set up and was rewarded with a place in John McDermott’s 18-man squad for the prestigious Montaigu Tournament, an annual competition held in France that also saw current England team-mate and Arsenal striker Theo Walcott travel with him.
While those around him, including City’s fans, increasingly called for Micah to be handed a regular first team berth, the player renowned for his consistent smile and down-to-earth nature continued to concentrate on impressing for the side’s reserve team.
Finally, though, the breakthrough into City’s starting XI came; the date was October 22nd 2005 and the name was Micah Richards. Commentators eulogised about the talent of the unknown youngster, and their claims rung true as the already imposing figure of Micah warmed up on the touchline.
That the game was against Arsenal and with it Micah’s boyhood hero, Thierry Henry, made the occasion all the more momentous, and after coming on as a second-half substitute, the prodigy from Leeds raced to shake his idol’s hand. The smile told the world’s press all they needed to know; despite the mass hysteria and praise levelled at Micah, it was on the field and surrounded by fellow players and fans that the teenager was most content.
With Pearce recognising that Micah had taken his professional debut in his stride, the youngster became a regular fixture in City’s first-team squad. It would have been easy for his new-found fame to go to his head, but instead Micah’s commitment to improving himself as a footballer continued to reap its own rewards. Next up came Micah’s full debut against Charlton Athletic in Feburary 2006.
The right-back berth Micah occupied for City became his own, though his more attacking tendencies were still present as he charged up and down the flank. The incredible jumping ability that made him such a defensive stalwart was also a secret weapon of City’s set-piece routines, and it was this particular feature of Micah’s game that saw him rise above all of the Aston Villa defenders and head home in the final seconds of City’s FA cup clash with the Midlands-club, netting his first senior goal and with it securing a replay for Pearce’s men.
The meteoric rise did not end there; a call-up to the England Under 19 squad swiftly followed, with Micah taking part in the European Under 19 Championship qualifiers. Just days earlier, Micah’s services had been called upon by City’s Under 18 side as they contested the final of the FA Youth Cup. Micah was handed the captaincy in a fixture that the then 18-year old was only too happy to take part in, and while the side lost out 3-2 on aggregate to Liverpool, Micah drew the plaudits for an awe-inspiring display in the heart of the team’s defence. Micah’s stay in the England Under 19 set-up short-lived, however, as he was added to the England Under 21s, featuring threes times for the side before being handed an England senior call-up.
So came one of the most historic days in Micah’s short career thus far. In England’s friendly with Holland in November 2006, the youngster was handed his debut for the side as they claimed a 1-1 draw against Holland and with it his first senior cap. In Gary Neville’s absence, Micah had proven himself to be a more than able replacement, giving fans of the nation a glimpse of the future as he paraded down the right-flank and demonstrated calmness and ability beyond his age.
Micah’s aerial ability had caught the attention of pundits and fans alike, and it took England’s rising star little time to open his account with the senior side as he connected with Gareth Barry’s in-swinging corner, heading the ball home as the side secured a 3-0 victory over Israel in the Euro 2008 qualifier.
Micah had announced his arrival in domestic and international football. The consistently impressive performances from 2006 saw the youngster collect 11 senior caps for England as well as the 2005-06 Young Player of the Year award at City, whilst he captained the England Under-21s as they marched to the final of the Under-21 European Championships.
Despite offers from a selection of the biggest clubs in Europe, Micah signed a new five year contract at the City of Manchester Stadium in order to continue his development at his adopted home. While Micah was sidelined for much of the second-half of City’s 2007-08 season – which coincided with a dramatic slump in the side’s form following an impressive start to the campaign up to December – City secured a place in the UEFA Cup proper, handing Micah his first experience of European football.
Then manager Mark Hughes guided his side to the quarter-finals of the competition the season after, though their league form seemingly suffered as the club struggled to tenth in the Premier League. For most of the season, Micah operated between the right-back and central defensive positions, one of the highlights being his performance in City’s 1-0 victory over Sunderland in which he scored and was eventually named man-of-the-match.
The arrival of the Abu Dhabi United Group at the City of Manchester Stadium instigated a hefty spending spree, and with Robinho already secured the summer previous, 2009 saw the likes of Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry and Emmanuel Adebayor join the ranks. There was also a managerial change as Roberto Mancini took over the reigns early on in the campaign, and the Eastlands club mounted their bid for Champions League qualification with impressive early-season form.
As well as maturing defensive displays, Micah’s season has already become synonymous with charging displays down the flank. Having had two goals disallowed under dubious circumstances in the 2009-2010 season, the powerful defender netted against former boyhood club Arsenal as City secured an impressive 4-2 win, and he followed it up with another as the club drew 3-3 with Bolton.
However, his most impressive was to come against Blackburn as he stormed from deep within his own half to beat five players and eventually net to set City on their way to a 4-1 win.
Or Subscribe Via Email Below...
