CBS Sports
Thierry Henry and Micah Richards, two of the hosts of CBS Sports’ acclaimed Champions League coverage in the United States, shared a heartfelt moment during the broadcast on Tuesday that nearly moved Richards to tears. During the intro, Henry took over the show to pay tribute to Richards.
While Micah Richards is largely seen as the Charles Barkley — the class clown — of CBS’ Champions League coverage and wholly embraces that role, Thierry Henry took a moment to express his appreciation for the difficulties that Richards faced in his playing career and how he dealt with those challenges.
Richards, a former Manchester City and Aston Villa player, had to retire from professional football at 29-years-old due to recurring knee injuries.
Thierry Henry nearly moved his Champions League co-host Micah Richards to tears with a heartfelt tribute to his life and career
Usually, host Kate Abdo will start the show by showering praise on Henry, co-host Jamie Carragher, and whoever else may be at the desk — this time Clint Dempsey — before ending with a punchline about Micah Richards.
On Tuesday, however, Henry — widely considered to be one of the greatest footballers of all time — took the reigns to give Richards his flowers.
“I wanted to say something to you, yesterday I couldn’t do it because it was Kasper’s [Schmeichel, who made his debut on the show] moment, yesterday you made me realize something. I wanted to do that face-to-face, at the end of my career I played ten years with extreme pain in my achilles on both sides, but I could finish my career on my terms, you couldn’t do that,” Henry began.
“I have the utmost respect for you for dealing with it, I don’t know how you dealt with it mentally. And yet you sit here happy, lifting everyone’s spirit, making everyone happy. I am kind of looking at it and I just wanted to tell you that because we don’t take you for granted.”
“Sometimes you might think you’re not being seen, and we see you. For a very long time, my favourite person on this show, was Chloe. She is the girl that helps me to do the analysis, but I’m sure she won’t mind me saying you’re my favourite on this show.”
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You can check out the full 8-plus-minute long segment, which also sees Team USA legend Clint Dempsey contribute to the conversation, below.