Micah Richards has revealed he has given up alcohol in a bid to shed excess weight and recover from a troubling back injury, admitting he had “put on too much timber” and fallen into unhealthy habits.
The former Manchester City and England defender, now a popular pundit, spoke candidly about his lifestyle changes during a light-hearted exchange with Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker on The Rest is Football podcast.
Appearing alongside Lineker at the former Match of the Day host’s home, with Shearer joining via video link, Richards explained that he had decided to stop drinking after realising he was no longer balancing it out with exercise.
“What’s happening is that I’m drinking and not going and doing my exercise the next day,” Richards confessed.
“I had a problem with my back and had the epidural injection. So my back’s basically finished. I’ve had the epidural now, I’m not drinking and feel great. I feel like I’ve got more energy.”
The conversation began in typically jovial fashion, with Shearer teasing: “He’s in your front lounge, I sense red wine later on lads…”
Lineker laughed, replying: “He’s off the drink! And I opened a really nice bottle as you can see here.”
Micah Richards has claimed that he put on 'too much timber' before giving up alcohol
| PARichards then added: “On a serious note, Al, I’ve put on too much timber,” prompting Shearer to quip, “I was beginning to think that myself!”
The 37-year-old has long been admired for his physical presence, both during his playing days and since retirement. Known for his explosive strength and athleticism at Manchester City,
Richards was meticulous about maintaining his fitness after hanging up his boots, often sharing workout routines and training clips with fans.
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He famously nicknamed himself “Big Meeks” and even fronted a joint campaign between Sky Sports and Optimum Nutrition, showcasing his dedication to the gym in a viral promo video.
However, his recent back injury has forced him to scale back his workouts.
The epidural treatment he received indicates a serious issue, and Richards admitted the pain had curtailed his usual high-energy training sessions.
Despite that, he insists the decision to stop drinking has made a marked difference.
“I feel great,” he told his co-hosts. “I feel like I’ve got more energy now.”
Shearer jokingly responded: “Oh no, that’s not a good sign if you’ve got more energy — have you not got enough already?”
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| PARichards’ interest in boxing has also been well documented. He has trained under Malik Scott, husband of his CBS Sports colleague Kate Abdo and former coach of heavyweight contender Deontay Wilder.
Scott recently suggested that Richards has the natural ability to compete in crossover boxing events such as Misfits.
“Micah Richards definitely has the potential,” Scott told CanadaCasino.
“He’s strong, coordinated, and knows what it takes to compete. Boxing is about staying calm under pressure, and I think he could do it.”
For now, though, any prospect of a future in the ring appears unlikely given Richards’ ongoing back problems, which he has described as “basically finished.”
Nonetheless, the former England international seems determined to focus on recovery and health, embracing a new discipline off the pitch.