Inside the life of Ian Wright from football career and punditry to his personal life

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Ian Wright has become something of a household name in the UK, following his career as both a professional footballer and a pundit.

The former star was something of a late bloomer on the playing stage, impressing for both Crystal Palace and Arsenal, before short spells at West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Celtic and Burnley.

While Ian Wright was a frightening forward in his day, he is also known for his measured punditry, be it on live coverage of matches, shows dissecting the action or podcasts.

Having become one of the most likeable presences on national coverage of football, there are few who wouldn’t know about him.

However, there are plenty of details that some may not know, so with that said, here’s a look at everything you need to know about Ian Wright.

Where was Ian Wright born

Ian Wright was born in London, England, which was the national team he went on to represent in his career, though he was eligible to represent Jamaica too.

He has two older brothers, while football seems to run in the family through his cousins, nephews and children.

How old is Ian Wright

Ian Wright was born on November 3, 1963, which makes him 61 years old at the time of writing.

Ian Wright’s height

Ian Wright measures in at approximately 1.75 metres, or roughly five feet and nine inches tall.

Ian Wright’s professional football career

Coming through as something of a late starter in football, Ian Wright was picked up by Crystal Palace in 1985, aged 22.

He made a quick impact, going on to show devastating form for the Eagles, before he was signed by Arsenal in 1991.

In a seven-year spell with the Gunners, Wright became a fan favourite as he scored 185 goals in 288 appearances for the club.

Shorter spells with West Ham, Burnley, Nottingham Forest and Celtic all followed, with his retirement confirmed in 2000.

Ian Wright’s goals for Arsenal

Ian Wright’s time at Arsenal saw him become something of a club icon, as he scored 185 goals for the Gunners.

Ian Wright’s England career

Ian Wright made his England debut in 1991, as the Three Lions beat Cameroon 2-0 thanks to a brace from Gary Lineker.

Wright would go on to make 33 appearances for England, scoring nine goals for the side in that time.

Who is Ian Wright’s wife

Ian Wright is married to Nancy Hallam, with the marriage taking place in 2011.

Does Ian Wright have any children

Ian Wright has eight children, including former footballers Shaun Wright-Phillips and Bradley Wright-Phillips.

His grandson, D’Margio Wright-Phillips, is also a football player at the start of his budding career in the game.

What is Ian Wright’s net worth

Ian Wright is claimed to have a net worth estimated at £15.27 million, with The Mirror stating he earns £150,000 per year from his punditry with ITV and BBC.

Ian Wright’s punditry career

Ian Wright had quite the TV career in the 2000s, but he quickly changed that for a role as a pundit covering football.

The former Arsenal man started out on Match of the Day, before leaving in 2008, taking a break before joining BT Sport in 2013.

The next year, he also joined ITV as a regular for their coverage, before his return to the BBC in 2017.

Wright then left Match of the Day in 2024, and he has since been a regular on Premier League Productions, as well as ITV and the BBC.

Ian Wright’s Instagram

Ian Wright’s Instagram is @Wrightyofficial.

Ian Wright’s podcast

Ian Wright also hosts his own podcast, known as Wrighty’s House.

He has been running it since 2020, covering anything he wants to talk about on football, which can have a focus on Arsenal at times.