Ian Wright reveals the REAL reason why he quit BBC’s Match of the Day after 27 years

Ian Wright has revealed the real reason he quit BBC's Match of the Day after 27 years.

The former Arsenal striker, 60, has opened up about his future plans and said he wants to watch more football once he quits the iconic program at the end of the current Premier League season.

Wright said he wants to bring his wife, Nancy Hallam, because she makes him laugh. He added that he would especially like to attend more women's matches and his grandchildren's matches.

The former England footballer, They Think It's All Over captain and I'm A Celebrity contestant, announced this weekend that he will quit the BBC football highlights show at the end of the season. Initially, he said in a short social media post that he wanted to do other things. things with his Saturday.

Wright watched Premier League matches during the day on Saturdays so he could discuss them on air on MOTD in the evenings.

Wright's granddaughter Raphaella Wright-Phillips, whose father is former Manchester City legend Shaun Wright-Phillips, 42, is a talented young footballer. Her skills have been seen across the country when a video went viral

Wright sits alongside Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker in the iconic BBC programme. Wright has been an expert in the field of MOTD for 27 years

Dad-of-eight Wright has two daughters, Lola and Roxanne, with Nancy (left), whom he married in 2011

Sharon Phillips is mother to his eldest boys Shaun and Bradley, his third son is Brett, first wife Deborah has a son Stacey (pictured) and daughter Bobbi with him, he has another daughter Coco, 17, and the two girls with Nancy

Now he said he will play more matches, but at all levels – from Arsenal ladies, who play in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, to children's matches.

Wright's granddaughter Raphaella Wright-Phillips, whose father is former Manchester City legend Shaun Wright-Phillips (42), is a talented young footballer. Her skills were on display across the country when a video went viral.

Wright, who has been an advocate for the women's game, said: 'I'm actually going to watch more football – I'm going to watch my granddaughter.

'I'll be watching a lot more women's matches at Borehamwood. I'm going to watch a lot more Arsenal games, just to be there, just to be there with the fans.

“Go with my son and his wife – just go and be with them and be there, just to celebrate when we win or lose.

“And spend some more time with my wife, Nance, because she has so much to do in a weekend with the two girls who are reaching a certain age where they have to be everywhere.

“So I just want to be there a little more.”

The former Arsenal striker first appeared as a player on the show in 1997, when Des Lynam was the host

Wright appears on MOTD alongside his son and former Manchester City and England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips

Wright announced on his X page that he would be quitting MOTD, saying the 'decision has been coming for some time'

Dad-of-eight Wright has two daughters, Lola and Roxanne, with Nancy, whom he married in 2011.

He added, “I also want to take Nance to more games, so she'll come because she really makes me laugh when she watches the game.”

Wright also wants to spend more time watching his grandson D'Margio Wright-Phillips, 22, who has played under-17s for England and made 17 appearances for Stoke City before being loaned out to Northampton.

'I want to see if I can watch my grandson play too; he needs a little more support now,” he said.

'It's a bit of a failure for him, he's at Stoke. So hopefully I can watch him some more and spend some more time.”

Wright added on his Wrighty's House podcast: 'It was a bit of a realization because there are so many cool things happening and I just want to give it some quality time.

“So that's what I want to do. I just want to do things that involve watching games and spending time with people.

Wright, who has been an advocate for women's football, said: 'I'm definitely going to watch more football – I'm going to watch my granddaughter'

Wright said he wants to see more football at all levels, including Arsenal's women's team (Photo: Arsenal and England striker Alessia Russo in action against West Ham United in the Women's Super League)

“If you talk to players, you can even connect with players like on Insta, like someone like Charlie Patino, I promised Charlie that. I want to go to him.'

The 20-year-old Patino is on loan from Arsenal to Swansea City, but has recently started as a substitute.

Wright has been married twice and said in his autobiography that he had eight children with four women.

Sharon Phillips is mother to his eldest boys Shaun and Bradley, his third son is Brett, first wife Deborah has a son Stacey and daughter Bobbi with him, he has another daughter Coco, 17, and the two girls with Nancy.