James Milner has announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 40, ending a 24-season Premier League career that saw him set the all-time appearance record. The versatile midfielder, who played for Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton, made 658 top-flight appearances and won 61 England caps.
Milner broke the Premier League appearance record in February while playing for Brighton against Brentford. He began his career at Leeds, becoming the league's youngest goalscorer at 16 years and 356 days. At Manchester City, he won two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup, with manager Manuel Pellegrini calling him 'the most complete player in England'.
After moving to Liverpool in 2015, Milner added another league title, another FA Cup, a League Cup and the Champions League. He then joined Brighton on a free transfer, helping the club qualify for the Europa League and the Conference League. 'After 24 seasons in the Premier League, it feels like the right time to bring an end to my playing career,' Milner wrote on Instagram.
Known for his professionalism and versatility, Milner played as a full-back, winger and emergency centre-forward in addition to his preferred central midfield role. Former teammate Nedum Onuoha described him as 'ahead of the curve' and 'the glue that holds stuff together'. Jordan Henderson praised his 'unique mentality'.
Milner's career also included representing England at four major tournaments. He retires with a reputation for humility, self-discipline and a fierce competitive streak, once dethroning Newcastle goalkeeper Steve Harper as the club's darts champion, earning the nickname 'Machine Gun Milner'.
