IAN WRIGHT will be part of the ITV team joining presenters Mark Pougatch and Jacqui Oatley at the World Cup this summer.
The former Premier League winner has been a pundit across many platforms since his retirement 18 years ago.
ITV confirm Sky Sports pundit and Manchester United legend Gary Neville will lead World Cup coverage in Russia
Who is Ian Wright?
WRIGHT is a 54-year-old ex professional footballer who played for England and Arsenal.
The striker started his career at Greenwich Borough before joining Crystal Palace in 1985 where he made 225 appearances.
He signed for Arsenal in 1991 for a club record fee at the time and scored on his debut for the Gunners.
After making over 220 appearances for Arsenal, Wright spent time with West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Celtic and Burnley before retiring in 2000.
Wright was handed his England debut in 1991 by Graham Taylor and over his international career scored nine goals in 33 appearances.
Shortly after his retirement, he was awarded an MBE for services to football.
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What were his biggest achievements as a player?
DURING his time at Crystal Palace, he helped them achieve promotion via the play-offs at the end of the 1988-99 season.
Whilst at Arsenal he won the FA Cup twice as well as once lifting the Premier League title, Football League Cup trophy and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
During his first season at Arsenal he won the First Division Golden Boot.
When did he become a pundit?
AFTER retiring from football, Wright moved into television work – but not in football straight away.
He started as a guest host of Top of the Pops and went on to present Friday Night’s All Wright, The National Lottery and Friends Like These to name just a few.
Other television work hgas including hosting the re-boot of Gladiators in 2008 Live from Studio Five.
He unveiled in 2010 that he was sacked from the show after falling out with the show’s bosses over refusing to promote a new show.
Wright started as a pundit for Match of the Day and was part of the World Cup (2002, 2006) and Euro 2004 set-up.
He quit Match of the Day in 2008 criticising the programme for using him as a “court jester” but is a regular on the programme again now.
He has also spent time at BT Sport as a studio analyst and since 2014, Wright has also been a regular pundit for ITV covering England matches and was part of the team for the 2014 World Cup and the Euros in 2016.
When is the 2018 World Cup?
ENGLAND travel out to Russia on Tuesday, June 12 before their World Cup campaign starts on Monday, June 18 with their first group match against Tunisia.
In Group G they will also face Panama (Sunday, June 24) and Belgium (Thursday, June 28).
If they win their group, England will face the runners-up of Group H which consists of Colombia, Japan, Poland and Senegal.
The final of the World Cup will be held on Sunday, July 15.
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