James Milner has announced his retirement from professional football aged 40.
In a career which began at Leeds aged 16, the midfielder played in a record-breaking 658 Premier League matches, overtaking Gareth Barry in February.
The Yorkshireman won the Premier League twice with Manchester City before lifting the title as well as the Champions League with Liverpool.
He also accumulated 61 England caps and played for Swindon, Newcastle, and Aston Villa before finishing his career with three seasons at Brighton.
He said on Instagram: ‘I leave the game with immense pride, gratitude and memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life.
‘Football has given me far more than I could ever have imagined, and I will always be thankful for the opportunities it provided.’
James Milner has retired aged 40 after winning three Premier League titles and a Champions League
The midfielder accumulated 658 appearances in the Premier League, breaking Gareth Barry’s record
Milner’s contract with Brighton has expired but in February he said he was ‘pretty open’ to extending and manager Fabian Hurzeler hoped that he would stay on.
He has completed a few coaching badges and expressed an interest in management, but said in February that he intends to take Jurgen Klopp’s advice of taking a break upon retirement.
Making his debut for hometown club Leeds aged aged 16 years and 309 day, he was the second-youngest player to feature in the competition at the time, and remains the third-youngest scorer at 16 years, 356 days old. Only Max Dowman and James Vaughan have scored at a younger age.
He was a decade into his career when he won his first Premier League title with Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City in 2011-12. He added another title under Manuel Pellegirini before moving to Liverpool in 2015–16 and becoming Jurgen Klopp’s vice-captain.
Milner added in his statement: ‘After 24 seasons in the Premier League, it feels like the right time to bring an end to my playing career. From making my debut for Leeds United, who I supported growing up, at the age of 16 and becoming the Premier League’s youngest scorer, I could never have dreamed of the journey I’ve been on, right through to not being able to lift my foot last year and then coming back to be part of Brighton qualifying for Europe for the second time in their history at the age of 40.
‘To have gone on to represent Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Brighton – and not forgetting a memorable month at Swindon Town – has been an incredible privilege. Every club has played a huge role in my life and career, and I want to thank everyone involved – the owners, staff, coaches, teammates and supporters who welcomed me and helped me along the way.
‘I’ve been fortunate enough to experience some unforgettable moments, from fighting for survival to winning trophies, playing in Europe, and representing my country, England, at two European Championships and two World Cups. But more than anything, it’s the people and friendships I’ve made throughout the game that I’ll cherish forever.
‘To the fans, thank you. To those who supported me every step of the way, your encouragement meant more than you’ll ever know. And to those who gave me grief along the way, thank you too — you all played your part in making the journey memorable and helping shape me as a player and person.
‘To my family, thank you for every sacrifice, every mile travelled and every moment of encouragement. None of this would have been possible without you.’
Milner made his Premier League debut for Leeds aged 16 and scored not long after
He went to two World Cups and two European Championships with England, picking up 61 caps
An industrious runner, pragmatic player, and model professional, Milner will also be remembered for playing into the ‘boring tag’ which followed him throughout his career.
After reaching the 2018 Champions League final with Liverpool following a victory over Roma, he quipped that he ‘might stretch to a Ribena’ in his celebrations.
An academic chap, he left school with 11 GCSEs, and his head of maths, Steve Weeks, said: ‘He would have been a success at anything he chose to be.’
In the 2019 Champions League semi-finals, he was successful at riling Lionel Messi when playing against Barcelona.
One late challenge from Milner left the Argentinian icon incensed and caused a clash, with Messi branding him a ‘donkey’.
‘He wasn’t happy,’ Milner told the Mail on Sunday. ‘He was giving me plenty in Spanish going down the tunnel at half-time as well.
‘He was calling me “burro”. It translates as donkey but I think it’s also used in Spanish football as a general term for someone who goes around kicking people.
‘I asked him if he was all right, but he wasn’t having it. I don’t think he realised I understood his Spanish. He said: “That foul you did, that’s because I nutmegged you.”
he won his first two Premier League titles with Manchester City across five seasons there
‘I left him to it at that point and went into the changing room.’
If he does pursue the coaching route, Milner won’t just be limited to English gigs – it turns out he’s proficient in Spanish.
Ever diligent, he started learning the language when he signed for Manchester City in 2010 to bond better with his Spanish team-mates, and he once revealed that he only spoke to his children in Spanish in order to teach them it.
‘Since my two children were born I’ve just spoken to them in Spanish, he told The Times in 2022. ‘My missus speaks to them in English.
‘They understand pretty much everything I say. It’s a very good gift you can give your children. My missus will tell you that’s what I’m like, if I set my mind to something, I do it.
‘I’m stubborn and I always want to be right. I hate losing. We have some great debates here. We always joke I could be a lawyer.
‘I’m a pretty stubborn b******!’
A former ballboy at Elland Road, Milner’s legacy will be defined by his longevity.
In February, Opta calculated that 49 per cent of players in Premier League history – had played with or against Milner, totting up to around 2,500 men.
He had also played in roughly 1.8 per cent of all English top-flight games since 1888.