From £70 weekly pay to Premier League record in 24 years - Milner retires

James Milner retires at 40 after setting the Premier League appearance record with 658 games over 24 seasons.

Milner's record-breaking career At 40 years old, James Milner has retired from football after concluding a remarkable 24-season career in the Premier League. During his time, he made 658 top-flight appearances, earned 61 caps for England, collected three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and lifted the Champions League trophy. His journey began with a £70 weekly wage as a Leeds United apprentice and ended with a historic milestone that surpassed Gareth Barry's previous record of 653 appearances. ## A referee's memorable moment Former referee Jon Moss recalled a unique moment from his teaching days when he sent off Milner during a Liverpool match against Crystal Palace in 2019. Moss, who once taught Milner at Westbrook Lane Primary School in Horsforth, Leeds, joked that he couldn't wait to show the red card to his former student. Despite the unusual situation, both now look back on the incident with humor, noting that Milner is the only former pupil sent off by his old teacher in a Premier League game. ## Early career beginnings Milner made his Premier League debut for Leeds United just after finishing school in 2002, starting his professional journey on £70 a week as a Youth Training Scheme player. His father, Peter, watched from the away end at Upton Park when Milner came on as a substitute for Jason Wilcox in a 4-3 win over West Ham on November 10, 2002. Six weeks later, he became the youngest Premier League goalscorer at the time, netting in a 2-1 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light at just 16 years and 356 days old. ## From goals to dressing room chores Even as a goalscorer for Leeds, Milner continued performing duties off the pitch, including cleaning the dressing room and assisting the kit man. He admitted to helping the under-18 captain by polishing boots, despite playing in the first team at a younger age. Soon after, he was loaned to Swindon Town in League Two to further his development, where he made six appearances and scored two goals during his four-week stay. ## Premier League loan spell at Swindon Swindon Town teammate Sam Parkin remembered Milner as a focused and determined teenager eager to learn, contrasting him with other young players from top-flight clubs. Parkin recalled Milner setting up a goal for him against Brighton and both finding the net in a win over Peterborough. Before Milner returned to Leeds, Parkin told him, "I never want to see you back here because you've got too much quality for this level," praising his attitude and performances. ## From Leeds to Newcastle and loan struggles After relegation with Leeds in 2003-04, Milner moved to Newcastle United for £5 million following the sale of key players like Alan Smith and Paul Robinson. His time at Newcastle included a loan spell at Aston Villa, where manager Graeme Souness infamously remarked, "You won't win the league with James Milners," though he later apologized for the comment. Milner's frustration grew as he was sent out on loan again, but his performances impressed enough for Villa to attempt a £4 million permanent deal before Newcastle pulled out at the last moment. ## Villa departure and Chelsea move After two seasons at Aston Villa, Milner finally secured a permanent transfer at age 22, having made 94 top-flight appearances for Newcastle. He spent two years at Villa Park under Martin O'Neill before joining Chelsea in 2010, a club fresh off a Premier League and FA Cup double under Carlo Ancelotti. His move to Chelsea came as Manchester City also pursued him, though they had not won a major trophy since 1976 at that time. ## Manchester City success story Milner chose Manchester City in 2010, helping revive the club's fortunes under Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini. Over five years, he contributed to two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, and one Community Shield, playing in multiple positions including a brief stint as a lone striker. Former teammate Micah Richards recalled Milner's leadership during a challenging 2012 season, saying he was one of the players who kept everyone going during tough times. ## The 'Boring Milner' meme Richards also shared a lighthearted story about a social media account parodying Milner, which mocked his routine habits like ironing, drinking tea, and minor match details. Milner jokingly accused Richards of creating the account, leading Richards to message the actual creator, who turned out to be an unrelated fan. Milner embraced the 'Boring' tag during lockdown by posting a video of himself trimming his lawn with scissors, playing along with the humor. ## Liverpool glory and Klopp's outburst Milner joined Liverpool in 2015, where he won seven trophies in eight years, including the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup, and Community Shield. One memorable moment came when he angered manager Jürgen Klopp during a heated half-time discussion, with Klopp famously shouting, "Will you shut up?" Milner, however, maintained a strong relationship with Klopp throughout his time at Anfield. ## Brighton's veteran leader In 2023, Milner signed for Brighton & Hove Albion, extending his Premier League career into its 24th season at age 39. Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler praised Milner's winning mentality and leadership, stating he knows exactly what it takes to win and how to guide the team through difficult phases. As Brighton's second-oldest goalscorer behind Teddy Sheringham, Milner scored a penalty against his former club Manchester City earlier this season, recreating Diogo Jota's controller celebration in tribute to the late Liverpool teammate. ## A model professional's legacy Former England captain Alan Shearer, who played with Milner at Newcastle, described him as a "manager's dream" and a model professional, saying he delivers consistency and reliability in every squad. Paul Robinson, Milner's former Leeds teammate, reflected on his dedication, noting how every aspect of his life—from what he eats to how he sleeps—reflects his commitment to excellence. Milner himself recalled a conversation with Leeds goalkeeper Nigel Martyn, who warned him that time in football passes quickly, a lesson Milner now understands firsthand as he closes out his career.