I played for Man Utd and England but fell out of love with the game… now I’m selling luxury watches for millions
AN ex-Manchester United and England star now lives a very different life selling luxury watches for millions.
Kieran Richardson, who also played for clubs including Sunderland, Fulham and Aston Villa, hung up his boots aged just 33.
However, the 38-year-old continues to make the big bucks and travel the world with his new business venture.
The former Red Devils wide man and eight-time capped England international now specialises in buying and selling expensive timepieces.
He co-owns the Broadwalk Group company.
Richardson's love of watches started aged 16 when he bought his first Cartier Tank model and has now exclusively trades Richard Milles, Patek Philippes, Audemars Piguets and Rolexes.
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Asked about some of his biggest sales, the former footballer said: "Definitely a Richard Mille, for sure. It must have been around $2.3m [£1.7m].
"It was to an Asian client, an RM Skull - big money.
"We all start somewhere. When I first got into watches, I bought a Rolex for £14,000, then £18,000 then £21,000 then I made £3,000 on that watch.
"You get more confidence, you've got to get involved.
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"Spend what you can afford, enjoy it, wear the watches, and collect, I know London can be unsafe, some buy them strictly as investments and leave them in a vault.
"Every day I'm learning, you have to know your products."
Richardson once turned down someone trying to sell him a watch worth £300,000 because it was "too niche" and had a Lamborghini Murcielago and Ferrari 458 in his garage.
"I'd rather have a great holiday, drive a car hard, it's a thrill. There's no point buying a car if you're not going to feel it.
"You have to make sure you trust your dealer. I find with my background and who I am, people don't feel I'm going to rump them and run away with £100,000 because I don't need your £100,000.
"I get a lot of customers from the trust side and that's fine.
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"I have a lot of clients but don't like to tell the big names - I don't want to open that can of worms, these watches are proper assets.
"I'm private. I have massive clients, trust me - it's different if they want to put it out there. I am thinking about people, not the pound notes. Safety.
"I only invest what I know and it can go t**s up but it can be very profitable too - I've made money from it."
Richardson came through the United academy, making 81 first-team appearances between 2002 and 2007.
He also had spells with West Brom and finally Cardiff.
By that 2016-17 season, the Greenwich-born ace was ready to pack it in.
Richardson, who played under both Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane, added: "I miss my team-mates, the changing room, the banter but I don't miss the football itself, having to lace my boots and go out at 3pm.
"By the end of my career, it became a job, I fell out of love with it and lost that spark. I still enjoyed it but lost that love.
I am an Arsenal fan... I knocked them out the FA Cup and scored against them
Kieran Richardson
"Paul Scholes is definitely the most talented footballer I've been around.
"Sir Alex is No1, the best manager of all time. I really enjoyed working for Roy - he got the best out of me, he's the best pundit now.
"Both were fiery, but Roy was probably more. He would never ask you to do something he couldn't do himself.
"Being a captain is about leading and getting the best of the team and he was perfect at that, everyone respected that.
"Everyone sees him on TV - he was the same on the pitch and in the changing room."
Despite his spell with United at the peak of the rivalry with Arsenal, Richardson is a boyhood Gunners fan - and is enjoying being a supporter in his retirement.
The 2006 League Cup winner concluded: "I watch football so much now - I didn't watch it much as a footballer, I didn't really care.
"Now as someone not playing, I enjoy being an Arsenal fan, I'm buying a season ticket next season.
"I don't think there was a conflict of interests.
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"I am an Arsenal fan but when you play for a club, you aren't thinking about Arsenal. Whichever club you're at, that's the team you are riding for.
"I knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup and I scored against them."