News Focus
- Milner retires at age 40 after 24 seasons in English top flight
- Former midfielder holds record for most Premier League appearances (658)
- Career spanned six clubs including Liverpool, Manchester City and Leeds United
- Won multiple trophies and represented England at international level
James Milner has retired from professional football. The midfielder is 40 years old.
Milner holds the record for most Premier League appearances. He played 658 matches in the competition. This is more than any other player in history.
The Englishman started his career at Leeds United. He was just 16 years old when he made his debut in 2002. He also played for Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion. He spent one month on loan at Swindon Town early in his career.
Milner announced his decision this week. He explained that now is the correct moment to finish playing. His career lasted 24 seasons in the Premier League.
“I never imagined this career path,” he explained. He recalled making his first appearance for Leeds United as a teenager. The club was his childhood favourite. He also mentioned helping Brighton reach European competition last year at age 40.
During his time in football, Milner collected several major honours. He won the Premier League title with Manchester City. He also won the Champions League with Liverpool. He earned caps for the England national team as well.
The midfielder expressed thanks to his family. He said they made many sacrifices during his career. He finishes his time in the sport with happy memories and pride.