Alan Shearer praises Ian Wright for making ‘life a joy’ as the Arsenal legend prepares to step back from Match of the Day… with the Newcastle icon claiming his Saturdays will now be ‘much much quieter’
- Alan Shearer has praised Ian Wright's legacy in BBC's iconic Match of the Day
- Wright, 60, recently announced he would be leaving the show next year
- It's lazy to criticize a team for being defensive. It requires intelligence, hard work, discipline and selflessness. Well done Man United – It all starts
Alan Shearer has praised Ian Wright after the England and Arsenal legend announced he would be stepping back from his pundit duties on BBC hit show Match of the Day.
Wright announced on Sunday that he would end his 26-year association with the show at the end of the current Premier League season, explaining that he felt “very privileged” to have been part of it for so long.
Gary Lineker, Shearer and Wright were iconic presenters of the weekend football show, with the former Gunners striker being the first to leave the MOTD trio.
Shearer explained the moment Wright told him he was leaving, praising his colleague and providing a fascinating insight into their long friendship.
To write The AthleticsShearer stated: '(Wednesday) I picked him up from the airport, we had breakfast at his hotel and a few hours later I met him again in the pub.
Alan Shearer has praised Ian Wright after the Arsenal legend announced he will be leaving Match of the Day
Wright, Shearer and Gary Linker form the BBC programme's iconic expert team
'Only afterwards did I realize how much I had been looking forward to it and perhaps this is ultimately the best compliment I can give my loyal colleague at Match of the Day.
“Wrighty, if you're reading this, you're making life a joy,” he added.
“During his journey he told me that he would be stepping back from Match of the Day at the end of the season.
'We will still work together in the Premier League, but my Saturdays will certainly not be the same. For starters, they will be much, much quieter,” Shearer said.
Tributes from supporters poured in for the 60-year-old after he announced his decision to leave on social media.
Part of Wright's initial statement read: 'After my debut show while still a player in 1997 and many more memorable years, I will be stepping back from BBC MOTD at the end of this season.
Shearer praised Wright for 'making life a joy' as the Gunners icon confirmed his MOTD exit
“I feel very privileged to have had such an incredible run on the most iconic football show in the world.”
Shearer continued to praise his former opponent's impact on the show's production, stressing that there were never any concerns that energy levels would drop when Wright was on set.
'You get to the studios in plenty of time for the 12.30 kick-off, you're still there 12 hours later and the danger is that you feel tired and exhausted at the moment you have to come alive in front of the camera.
'That chance never exists when Wrighty is around. The days feel so much shorter because you're giggling and making fun of each other. And he gets so into the games, especially when Arsenal are playing. It flies by,” he added.
