The ex-Manchester City and England defender burst onto the footballing scene as a teenager, but, after an on-pitch career curtailed by a knee injury, Richards has blossomed as the ever-animated pundit with a mega-watt personality to boot.

He embodies the modern take on the role, engaging viewers not only with analysis but also fun-loving camaraderie shared between analysts and presenter.

His media career blossomed as a jovial foil to the tough-talking, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane on Sky Sports’ Super Sunday.

Similar roles have followed on Match of the Day and for CBS’ Champions League coverage – where humorous off-script moments between presenter Abdo, Richards himself and Premier League legends Jamie Carragher and Thierry Henry regularly trend on social media.

Asking Richards to make the step up to presenting duties on a show as prestigious as Match of the Day would represent a risk from bosses, but certainly mark a fresh start and shift in tone.

He also has the backing of Lineker, who, when discussing the speculation over his future on The Rest is Football, told Richards: “I’d love to see you take over. I think you’d be brilliant in the chair.”