The Game: Player. Pundit. Fan.

by Micah Richards

‘The game isn’t what it seems from the outside. The game isn’t quite what I was expecting. The game doesn’t always work like the people on television think it does. The game is better, worse and stranger than you can imagine, and that is coming from someone who saw it all with their own eyes.’ Ever wondered what really goes on inside a Premier League dressing room, what it’s like to train under Roy Hodgson, Roberto Mancini and Fabio Capello – and what happens when you kick a sandwich at one of them? When it comes to football, former Manchester City and England star Micah Richards has seen it all – and laughed about most of it. In The Game , Micah shares his funniest and frankest stories from on and off the pitch, be it arriving at his first England training session with two left boots, attempting to supervise the infamous Mario Balotelli or winding up Roy Keane on Super Sunday . From how he spent his first Premier League paycheque and how he prepared – financially and mentally – for the day they stopped coming, to the euphoria of lifting the Premier League trophy and the physical and emotional impact of injury, Micah reflects openly on the many wins and losses in professional football. Full of Micah’s signature cheeky wit, this intimate, unmissable memoir goes behind the scenes of the beautiful game and a remarkable life and career.

Genres: Football, Biography, Audiobook, Autobiography, Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

Published February 7, 2023

Reviews

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really likable man, Micah's enthusiasm for football is clear on every page. At times it is a little repetitive, but refreshing to read an account of football from someone who experienced the absolute highs and lows. Plus he came through Oldham's academy so he gets marks for that!

[Eliza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is excellent—light, fun, and easy to read, but still meaningful. It really captures Micah's personality. While reading the lines, I felt like I was in the dressing room with him as he introduced all the players.

The emotional parts really stood out, especially when his football career was almost over. It was inspiring to see how he handled the challenges, like signing new contracts and dealing with how little control footballers often have.

Retiring young and having to learn new skills and adapt to a different life must have been so tough. You can really feel Micah’s passion for football throughout the book.

[H.D.B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt like he used his own experiences as an example of all the shitty stuff that comes with football but didn’t /really/ dive into his actual thoughts about what he’d gone through except for the basic things (eg, his injuries being the end of his career which sucked but failing to really go into the more psychological aspects of it). Idk maybe that’s just personal taste

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decent read/career Richards. Reparative and lacks oomph.

[Anna-Marie Corcoran · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read but very repetitive

[Matt Barker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable book from a footballer who appears to be a really nice guy. Refreshing that he names names and tells interesting, insightful and funny stories. I defy anyone with any interest in football to not enjoy this book.

[Sander Mignolet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains everything you expect from Micah. Humour, but with a serious undertone which makes his career and the football world very clear to us, the ones who never reached pro.

[Matthew Wilkinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Serious Christmas reading slump, but we kickstart the year with a finished book, finally.

This was perfectly fine, nothing overly exciting mainly because his playing career wasn’t. However, he’s open and honest enough to admit that, and there’s plenty of funny stories to keep you entertained.

[James R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Micah Richards talks about his love of Nandos Chicken among his many word-count-padding witterings; if I were to rate this book using the Nando's sauce heat scale it would unquestionably be mild. There is very little in the way of salacious gossip or unique insight into the life of a professional footballer. Instead it's a fairly standard footballer's biography. I find Richards a very likable character on TV but that personality and charm didn't come through as strongly in this book and his annecdotes we're nearly all pretty weak (sneaking out of hotel rooms for curfew-breaking nights out and passing off takeaway food as hooecooked are the height for the naughtiness described). There's not a lot wrong with the book, it's a perfectly acceptable run through of Richards playing career with a tacked on chapter at the end about becoming a pundit. Fine but nothing more than that.

[Alex Cotterill · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a pundit Micah is gr8 - lighthearted, funny and honest. My favs being Roy K and Graeme Souness, also like Jamie C from a Forest point of view.

This book, however, was quite poor. You didn’t really here about his personal affairs at all; nothing on his girlfriend/ wife and family.

It was just very repetitive and quite tedious. Same comments repeated over and over.

There were some good lol moments like the parts about Roy Keane and the ketchup but the ketchup joke wore off eventually. It’s a shame he didn’t stay in Fiorentina for longer as the players and lifestyle were good! I suppose though as Serie A instead “Premier League status”, he got bored.

It’s a shame about the book but it did have its good moments!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe I'm biased because I'm a City fan, and Micah was a huge part of the team that I watched for the better part of my teenage years, that won trophies I never even dared to dream of. But this was a charming read, that lifts the lid on the footballer lifestyle and tries to tell you what it's really like - warts and all.

[David Spence · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some interesting insights to his career and the sport but Extremely repetitive the book could’ve been half as long.

Also it comes across that he wants to be perceived as a “normal” bloke but he talks too much about money through the book. Towards the end states that “some players are all about money but not all of us are like that” … yet all he does for 300 pages is bang on about money

[Lewis Busuttil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Micah Richards’ The Game: Player. Pundit. Fan. is a refreshingly candid football memoir that goes beyond the usual stories of goals, glory, and trophies. Instead, Richards offers readers an honest exploration of the highs and lows of life inside and outside the sport. Known for his infectious laugh and charisma on TV, he brings the same warmth to his writing, balancing sharp insights with self-deprecating humor.

Richards charts his rise at Manchester City, from academy prodigy to Premier League champion, while also confronting the challenges that came later—injuries, dips in form, and a premature end to his playing career. He doesn’t shy away from discussing the psychological toll of setbacks, making the book feel more personal and relatable than many traditional football autobiographies.

What elevates The Game is Richards’ perspective as a pundit and fan. He reflects on modern football culture, media pressures, and the importance of representation, particularly as a Black voice in broadcasting. These sections add depth and make the memoir resonate beyond sport.

Overall, Richards delivers a heartfelt, funny, and thought-provoking book that captures his love for the game while revealing the person behind the pundit’s grin.

[Kurt Lewin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. He might not have had the most glittering career but it was still interesting to read his stories of football from the perspective of a player thrust into the limelight at a very young age and was also one of the players at Man City during their transition from mid table Premier League team to the powerhouse they are today. The fact he was able to keep his place in the team as superstars were getting purchased showed just how good of defender he was. Then there was the other side after his time at Man City when injuries took their hold and he ended up retiring at the age of 30. Whilst brief his stories from his media work were interesting and I would've liked to read more about that side of things.

[Ben · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very funny and quite an interesting view on the lifestyle of a footballer durimg the period he played. There were many funny anecdotes and quotes in this book. One quote that I found funny was, "Nobody grows up idolising the right back. Well, maybe Gary Neville, but nobody normal." You can see Micah Richards' humour bursting through the book and it is an enjoyable read. It is an interesting journey that you read through in Micahs happy tone. I would recommend this book to all football fans particularly Manchester City fans as the majority of the book is focused on his time there. Overall, this book is great and definitely worth a read.

[Yousif Al Zeera · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I’m deeply passionate about football, Micah Richards was never the type of player whose autobiography I’d typically read (not that he was bad but didn't connect with). However, as a pundit, he’s someone I genuinely enjoy—and that’s what drew me to his book.

He may not be too tactically astute with remarkable commentary or analysis (like Gary Neville or Thierry Henry), but he brings LIFE to these shows. His energy and commedian sense are always at the levels needed.

It was like a reverse interest – his punditry journey sparked my curiosity to know more about his football career (which lasted relatively short by the way).

[Mancman · Rating 4 out of 5]

He’s certainly a distinctive pundit, with his booming laugh, but obviously the main focus of this book is his got all career on the pitch.
It’s a pacy read, if a little repetitive in places, but there are no taboo areas, he’s candid about most things.
His career was cut short through injury, but he also talks through all the highs and lows, revealing what footballers really carry in those washbags.
It’s a nice mix of gossip, fact, admission and regret.

[Ben Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent enough read and the more interesting bits were around the latter bits of his career once he left City. But what comes across mostly is that his career was pretty unremarkable and he has a hugely over-inflated opinion of his own ability just because he played for England at a young age. More worried about losing out on a bonus than England not qualifying for Euro 2008. A massive ego without the ability to back it up? Reminds me of a certain O Attwood…

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Micah Richards has risen in popularity over the past few years due to his work as a pundit for CBS’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League. This book provides a pretty honest account of his career, and details his journey from a young star bursting onto the scene to the end of his career and everything in between.

[Lewis Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredible insight into Micah’s career, covered all bases inside and outside of the game, from the start to the finish and what he’s done beyond. Only complaint is some small stories are repeated but other than that a really good read

[Spencer Preece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it. Bit repetitive at times but a decent read.

[Anna Mulcahy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really nice look into Micah’s life and career. Very honest about himself and his mistakes, but also knowing when to back himself. Lovely read.

[Kate Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining but slightly repetitive.

[Joseph Yamoah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and easy read. Getting insights into Man City before the money and detail into the life, thinking and career of Micah. The part of the Fan and Pundit didn’t reflect much but general good read.
Quite a bit of repetition but all in all, an enjoyable read. I highly recommend it

[Mark Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny in parts. Gives an honest assessment of how his career went.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit repetitive but highly enjoyable (especially for City fans!).

[Connor James · Rating 3 out of 5]

"He was a lovely man, but there was no situation Patrick Vieira didn't think could be improved by raking his studs down your shin."

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice easy read with a real insight into players' personalities, which I've found other autobiographies tend to ignore. Lacked any huge moments but enjoyed it nonetheless.

[Paul Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An honest, entertaining book - just like his football!

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting insights, slightly repetitive in places. His personality shines through. 3.5/5