James Milner Reflects on Record-Breaking Career and Post-Football Ambitions
Walking into Brighton's Elite Football Performance Centre, a communications team member approached this journalist, asking about "frames" – a reference to Guinness World Records representatives present for James Milner. The veteran footballer had just broken Gareth Barry's Premier League appearance record with his 654th match, yet his Instagram post focused solely on Brighton's victory at Brentford, with no self-congratulation.
"I've always just tried to get on with my job and keep my head down really," Milner said, surrounded by journalists and a Guinness World Records official. "I know obviously there's been a lot of talk around this sort of thing, but for me, I just want to do my job and was especially pleased to get the win."
Record-Breaking Achievements and Humble Celebrations
Milner received three framed world records: most Premier League appearances (654), longest time between first and last Premier League goal (22 years and 248 days), and most consecutive Premier League seasons (24). He could earn a fourth record in 217 days by surpassing Teddy Sheringham as the oldest outfield player in Premier League history.
The 40-year-old emphasized his gratitude for congratulatory messages, particularly noting Gareth Barry's understated response. "He sent me a message after the game and then it was his birthday yesterday, so I sent him a message saying happy birthday," Milner shared. "He just said congrats, and he said he's going away and golfing somewhere, so that sounded good to me."
Considering Retirement and Klopp's Advice
With retirement looming, Milner remains uncertain about his future. "I think things change very quickly in football, and I think when you get to my age, things change very quickly as well," he admitted. "When I look at where I was last year, not being able to lift my foot for six months, to where I am this year, it's easier to turn around and say, 'Yes, I'd love to do another year.'"
He acknowledges the club's role in any decision and doesn't fear retirement, though he ponders the right timing. "I feel like I still can do it now, but do you go to the point where you can't? Is that too long?"
Milner recalled advice from former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp: "Jurgen always said, whenever you finish, you need to have a rest and a break straight away. I think that's pretty appealing at this moment in time."
Post-Retirement Plans: Marathons and Management
While a break sounds appealing, Milner's competitive nature suggests it won't last long. "I think most people say you miss the structure and what you're training for every day," he explained. "When you haven't got that, I think I'd probably look towards doing marathons or something like that to give me something to go for again."
Milner's legendary work ethic is exemplified by his dominance in Liverpool's pre-season lactate tests, which featured an award named after him. His longevity stems from a drive to prove doubters wrong, instilled by his father's motivational tactics. "He knew what I was like and he used to say, 'you don't work hard enough, you're not gonna make it,'" Milner remembered. "He knew what he was doing and it probably comes from that."
This drive has him considering management, though he's aware of the challenges. "There are some times I think it'd be great and I'd love to put my stamp on a team," he said. "But it's such a hard gig, isn't it? It's so hard."
Milner believes his experience under managers like Terry Venables, Sir Bobby Robson, and Klopp provides valuable insights. "I've got a great array of different managers from different countries and different personalities to lean back on," he noted. "In one way I think it'd be a big shame to lose all that knowledge and experience I've built up, to not be able to use that."
For now, Milner focuses on the present, with potential footballing firsts still possible in his remarkable career.
