A FORMER Premier League ace has opened up on his incredible early rise to fame as a top flight star.
But despite being surrounded by expensive cars and girls, the ex-player admits “it all happened too quickly.”
Micah Richards, 35, made his senior debut for Manchester City in 2007 — when he was just 17 years old.
The right-back quickly established himself as an important player for the Etihad club.
He went on to score nine goals in 245 games for his boyhood club.
And Richards even lifted several trophies including a Premier League title and an FA Cup.
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However, the 13-time England international retired from football aged just 31 in 2019.
He made just two league appearances in his final three seasons at Aston Villa.
And his last two terms at City also yielded just nine league games.
Speaking with pals Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer, Richards revealed how he “burst onto the scene” as a City kid.
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As he hit success on the pitch, he also reaped the off-pitch benefits too.
Richards admits he loved everything football had to offer at the time.
But in hindsight, the ace concedes it all came a bit too soon and may have resulted in his playing career fading out.
Richards said on BBC MOTD: “I started that phrase though, busting on the scene.
“I didn’t start it but I made it massive.”
Shearer joked: “Now he’s just massive. And he’s f*****g bursting out of his gear.”
Lineker then asked: “Was it difficult for you to handle suddenly becoming this instant star as a teenager?”
Richards answered: “I loved it. I absolutely loved it. There was cars, there was girls.
“It was like, you know, when you’ve finally arrived.”
Lineker responded: “Do you wish your rise would’ve been more gradual and you would have had a longer, more successful career?”
Richards said: “It all happened too quick and I got a little bit too excited. It was too much too soon.
“But I got there in the end, didn’t I? Working with you guys, not bad, I can’t complain.”
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