Ian Wright discloses future plans after quitting Match of the Day - and confirms reason for walking away

Ian Wright discloses future plans after quitting Match of the Day - and confirms reason for walking away

WATCH NOW: Ian Wright's first appearance on Match of the Day

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 19/12/2023

- 08:27

Updated: 19/12/2023

- 09:20

The former Arsenal star announced his decision to quit the show over the weekend

Ian Wright has revealed he's intending to spend more time with his wife Nancy in the wake of his decision to quit Match of the Day.

The former Arsenal star confirmed over the weekend that he'd be leaving the show, having appeared regularly over the past 27 years.


Wright has claimed he wants to spend more time with his wife, Nancy Hallam, because she makes him laugh.

And he also wants to attend more matches as a spectator, too, including Arsenal ladies fixtures and Borehamwood games as well.

Ian Wright

Ian Wright recently confirmed he will be quitting Match of the Day

GETTY

"I'm going to actually watch more football - I'm going to watch my granddaughter," he said.

"I'm going to watch a lot more women's games down at Borehamwood.

"I'm going to watch a lot more Arsenal games just to be there just to be there with fans.

"Go with my son and his missus - just go and be with them and be amongst it, just to celebrate when we win or when we lose.

"And spend a bit more time with my missus, Nance, because she has to do so much on a weekend with the two girls who are getting to a certain age where they have to be up and down all over the place.

"So I just want to be a bit more present on that."

Wright has two daughters with Nancy, named Lola and Roxanne.

He continued: "I want to take Nance as well to more games so she comes, because she really makes me laugh when she's watching the game."

Wright's grandson, D'Margio Wright-Phillips, is also a footballer.

He played 17 matches for Stoke before being sent on loan to Northampton, where he was restricted to just seven appearances.

"I want to see if I can watch my grandson play as well - he needs a bit more support now," he said.

"It's kind of fallen off a little bit for him, he's at Stoke. So hopefully I can watch him some more, spend a bit more time."

Wright has also spoken on his Wright's House podcast.

And he further elaborated on his decision by saying: "It's been a bit of a realisation because I've got so many cool things happening and I just want to give quality time to them.

"So that's what I want to do.

Ian Wright Nancy

Ian Wright wants to spend more time with his wife Nancy after quitting Match of the Day

PA

"I want to just go and do stuff where I watch games, spend time with people.

"When you speak to players, even like on Insta you can link with players, like someone like Charlie Patino, I've been promising Charlie. I want to go and watch him."

Wright first appeared on Match of the Day in 1997 when he was still a player.

He was strutting his stuff for Arsenal at the time and netted 185 goals for the club during his time in north London.

After leaving Arsenal in 1998, Wright proceeded to have spells with West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Celtic and Burnley.

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Wright also made 33 appearances for England, scoring nine goals.

His most fruitful year at international level was in 1993 when he bagged five goals from nine appearances.

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