Chris Richards faced a key question very early in his life. He was playing both basketball and football at a very good level. Luckily, his biology chose him. He was 5’9 when he faced the question of which sport he would pick. The height is considered small for basketball, but is just about ideal for a footballer. Keep in mind the fact that Richards was also playing as a central midfielder till he reached 14.
Richards filled in for a teammate as a centre-back in a youth game. He fell in love with the position and made it his own. His growth spurt hit at the right time, and he developed key physical as well as mental qualities. A tour to Argentina for a youth team increased his love for the game and made him choose football forever. However, the journey wasn’t a bed of roses for him.
Hailing from a state with little to no football history, Richards had to travel to Texas to pursue a career. He found a trial with the MLS Club FC Dallas thanks to his father’s attempts. However, in a crushing blow, the youngster didn’t cut and was released. This was when he met his coach Eric Quill, who reshaped his career. Eric personally worked with Richards to develop his game as a centre-back and played him there regularly at Texans SC Houston. Impressive performances with the club meant FC Dallas were back again for Richards by offering him another trial. This time, Richards aced it and was accepted by the club’s academy in 2017. A year later, he signed his first professional contract with the club. He was quite fortunate that his club signed a partnership with Bayern Munich very recently.
Richards had the chance of making his debut in his homeland for the legendary club in an International Champions Cup game. He spent the first year with the academy of Bayern Munich under Sebastien Hoeness. The club decided to buy him permanently as they decided he would be a key asset going forward. Richards was signed permanently in the summer of 2019.
He even got a promotion to Bayern’s reserve team, which plays in the third division. Richards played as a right-back in the team that stormed to the league title in the 2019/2020 season. In the same season, he got the chance to make his league debut for Bayern Munich. He racked up a UEFA Super Cup medal and a couple of Super Cup titles with the Bavarian giants.
Richards spent a season and a half on loan at TSG Hoffenheim to build more minutes under his belt. A change in management at Bayern Munich saw no place for Richards, as he was sold to Crystal Palace for €12 million in the summer of 2022. The defender moved to South London after learning German and learning a lot from his first European adventure.
It was not smooth sailing for the American there as he had a sporadic role in the first year. A couple of injuries didn’t help his cause either. When Roy Hodgson was back in the dugout, he started using Richards in midfield again. It helped him get more games, but he was playing out of position.
Richards saved the best for last as he put in a monstrous performance in the finals. Blocks, Clearances, Interceptions, track backs, he had everything in the final, along with an unbreakable spirit. He helped Crystal Palace preserve a clean sheet to win the game 1-0 against Manchester City. It was their first ever silverware and Richards was immediately part of South London club’s folklore.
The defender recently admitted why anyone would think of leaving Crystal Palace as they gear up for their first European Campaign next season. Oliver Glasner wouldn’t make the mistake of starting anyone over Richards again, would he?