Mirror Football speaks to Micah Richards about taking charge of struggling Sunday League side Warley FC
Micah Richards has named Yaya Toure as his dream signing after stepping in as co-manager for the UK’s ‘worst football team’. Former Manchester City and England defender Richards, 37, recently took charge of Essex-based Sunday League side Warley FC in an effort to turn around their fortunes.
The Brentwood-based team endured a woeful 2024/25 season in which they lost 18 of their 20 matches and conceded 81 goals, earning them the tag of Specsavers’ Best Worst Team. But Richards made an immediate impact after taking to the dugout alongside manager Luke Armstrong, with the team securing a 1-0 win in his first match in charge to match their win tally for last season.
Now, with the partnership being documented in a twelve-part YouTube series as part of Specsavers’ grassroots football initiative, Richards has named his dream signing – former City powerhouse and three-time Premier League winner Toure.
In doing so, the Sky Sports and CBS Sports pundit snubbed other big names and former team-mates such as Vincent Kompany and Sergio Aguero, though he provided a perfectly valid explanation as to why.
When asked which former team-mate he would sign for Warley in an ideal world, Richards exclusively told Mirror Football: “Yaya Toure. He has pace, strength, skill and can finish. Aguero’s not really going to run around is he?! Kompany’s not getting me goals. Big Yaya can do everything.
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“In Sunday League, you get a lot of technically good players just getting smashed. The pitches are getting better but they’re still bobbly so someone who can handle the ball but is physical and can score is key.”
When asked how former Italy striker and City maverick Mario Balotelli would fare in Sunday League, Richards said: “He’s not running back, not a chance but on the ball he’s unbelievable. He was one of the most talented players I’ve ever played with.
“He was amazing for us when we won the league and at the Euros with Italy. But chucking him in Sunday League isn’t doing anyone any favours, not at all.”
Richards went on to speak about how positively surprised he has been with the attitude of his Warley players, saying: “When you’re going down there for the first time you’ve got one thing in your mind because of their record last season, that these players are not going to be great.
“Sunday League up where I’m from they’re all overweight and out drinking the night before, all the stuff you’re not meant to be doing. So I had that in my mind but it was completely different when I arrived at Warley.
“Everyone was in shape and had a good attitude. We have some good technical players. I was thinking, ‘How were you not winning?!’ But the manager signed some really good players this year.
“I was just pleased with their attitude more than anything. It was way better than I thought it would be.”
Whether that has tempted Richards to step into management long-term is another story, with the former right back saying: “Not a chance. Managers have the hardest job in the world. Forget gameday, it’s all the prep. I have a team in Baller League and it’s non-stop. And that’s only six-aside!
“I have so much sympathy for managers. I’ve never been one to criticise too much but now I understand, even from just a fraction of the level.”
Fans can watch Warley FC’s wild reaction as ‘Big Meeks’ steps into the changing room in episode 3 of the latest series – now live on YouTube HERE.
