James Milner has suggested that retirement is not on the agenda after becoming the all-time leading Premier League appearance maker. The 40-year-old Brighton midfielder made his 654th appearance in the competition during Saturday's 2-0 win against Brentford, surpassing the previous record held by former Manchester City teammate Gareth Barry.
When asked about the secret to his longevity, Milner said: 'It's the drive and hunger, you want to be the best every day whether it's game or training. I'm surrounded by a lot of young lads, I want to contribute to their careers, push them and help them get to the highest level as quick as possible.' He added that he feels he can still contribute minutes on the pitch, despite some frustration this season over playing time.
Milner is out of contract at the end of the season but indicated he is not considering retirement. 'Hopefully I've proved the last few games that I can still contribute on the pitch,' he said. 'Things change quickly in football. When you get older things can change quickly. With the injury I had last season I couldn't lift my foot for six months. I'll keep pushing, let's see where that takes us.'
Former Liverpool teammate Jordan Henderson paid tribute to Milner, saying: 'I was very lucky to have Milly as my vice-captain at Liverpool, although I didn't see him as that. I saw us as a pair of captains. He helped me tremendously, not only on the pitch but off it, too.'
Milner began his career at Leeds United and has also played for Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, and Liverpool before joining Brighton in 2023. He has earned 61 caps for England, with his last appearance for the national team coming in 2016.
