Micah Richards leaves viewers in hysterics after press-up competition with Nigel Reo-Coker on CBS Sports… as he bites back at his former team-mate and claims he’s called ‘Big Meeks’ for a reason

Former team-mates Micah Richards and Nigel Reo-Coker engaged in a hilarious press-up competition on live TV on Wednesday night.

Richards was covering the Champions League on CBS Sports alongside Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry and Jamie Carragher, with the quartet having gained high acclaim for their work over recent seasons.

Ahead of the action on Wednesday between Borussia Dortmund and PSV, along with Atletico Madrid and Inter Milan, they were speaking to their colleagues in the US, with former West Ham, Bolton and Aston Villa midfielder Reo-Coker now based stateside.

Reo-Coker was once captain of England Under 21s and played alongside Richards for the Young Lions, and the 39-year-old decided to poke fun at his former team-mate when reflecting on their time together.

‘I remember when you first walked into the dressing room, I thought “who’s this kid?”, he said on CBS Sports.

Before the amusing competition got underway, Richards threw off his suit jacket in preparation

The pair were once team-mates for England Under 21s, with Reo-Coker serving as captain

‘He takes his top off and I was like, “oh my God”. That’s when he took care of himself back then. He was chiselled absolutely everywhere.

‘But if you asked Micah to do five press-ups, he couldn’t do five press-ups. 

‘I was trying to process in my head, “how can God bless him like that, but he can’t do five press-ups?” Looks can be deceiving.’

Richards then jokingly bit back and challenged his former skipper to a press-up contest, claiming he would ‘give him 20 now’.

After some encouragement from his colleagues, Reo-Coker reluctantly agreed, with Richards throwing off his suit jacket in preparation.

Reo-Coker looked strong as he racked up 21, but once he added in a clap he stumbled and slowly made his way back to his seat.

However, Richards showed no signs of easing up and powered through 50 push-ups before he jumped up to celebrate by flexing his biceps.

He then hilariously added: ‘That’s why they call me Big Meeks’, as his fellow pundits were left in hysterics.

Reo-Coker only managed 21 press-ups, but Richards powered through to an impressive 50

As he celebrated his feat, Richards hilariously added ‘that’s why they call me Big Meeks’

This included a chuckling Reo-Coker, before Richards high-fived Carragher on his way back to his seat. 

Reo-Coker, 39 – four years Richards’ senior – would go onto play 23 times for England Under 21s but never made a senior international appearance.

He also featured for the likes of Ipswich Town, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps before retiring in 2018.

Meanwhile, Richards won 13 caps for England between 2006 and 2012, while he was part of Great Britain’s squad at the London 2012 Olympics.