‘I’m not going to look at the camera’ – Ian Wright fights back tears as he’s given emotional send-off in final BBC MOTD
IAN WRIGHT fought back tears as he was given an emotional send-off in his final appearance on Match of the Day.
The England and Arsenal icon was overcome with emotion after joining Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer to assess the last day of the Premier League.
Wrighty was unable to see his beloved Gunners end their title jinx as Manchester City sealed top spot for a fourth successive season.
But the fan favourite was given a proper send-off as he appeared on Match of the Day for the final time.
Wright became a regular on the show back in 2002, with his first appearance coming five years earlier.
The 60-year-old, who won a Premier League and two FA Cups at Arsenal, appeared to be on the verge of tears throughout the show.
And he continued to fight them back at the very end as he was presented with a special cap by Lineker.
A video montage then played, with Wright’s friends and family sending him heart-wrenching messages.
He vowed “not to look at the camera” as he welled up.
And the 33-time England international then paid tribute to Lineker, Shearer and Match of the Day itself.
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Wright, who announced his decision to quit last year, said: “I’m going to miss you guys, I really am.
“This has been the greatest for me. Match of the Day means the whole world to me, you lot don’t even know. I’ve got my eight, nine, ten [tattoos with the shirt numbers of Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer], my two guys who I love so much on there.
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“People laugh at me for getting my eight, nine, ten, Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer but it’s because I love you man. You’re my guys.”
Shearer, referring to Wright’s upcoming gig as an ITV pundit at the Euros, responded: “We’ll see you next week at the Cup final, I know you’ll be about 200 yards from us but we’ll see you then at least.
“But it’s been at absolute pleasure and a delight to work with you for so long. You’re a breath of fresh air and you always have been. Thank you.”
Reflecting on his decision to quit Match of the Day, Wright said in December: “After my debut show whilst still a player in 1997 and many more memorable years, I’ll be stepping back from BBC MOTD at the end of this season.
“I feel very privileged to have had such an incredible run on the most iconic football show in the world.
“Anyone that knows my story knows how much the show has meant to me since I was [a] young boy.
“MOTD is my Holy Grail. On my first ever show, I told Des Lynam, ‘This is my Graceland’. It will always be my Graceland and I will always be watching.
“I’m stepping back having made great friends and many great memories.
“This decision has been coming for a while, maybe my [60th] birthday earlier this year fast tracked it a little, but ultimately it’s time to do a few more different things with my Saturdays.”
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