Former England player James Milner announces retirement from football at 40, retires as Premier League's record appearance-maker

Milner made a total of 658 Premier League appearances over a 24-year career, scoring 56 goals and assisting 90 times.

He began his career at Leeds United, before going on to represent Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and ending his career at Brighton & Hove Albion.

Milner lifted three Premier League titles, two with City and one with Liverpool, two FA Cups, two League Cups, and he won the Champions League under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool in 2019.

He also holds the record for the most seasons played in, having played at last one Premier League match in 24 consecutive campaigns, per Opta.

James Milner - Premier League Games Played Games Started Minutes

He made 61 caps for England between 2009 and 2016, with his solitary goal for his country coming in a 5-0 win over Moldova in September 2012.

His final act as a player came in a 3-0 defeat to Manchester United, but Brighton were nonetheless able to celebrate finishing in the top eight and sealing a spot in the UEFA Conference League for next season.

Milner has broken records throughout his career, becoming the youngest Premier League goalscorer at the age of 16 with Leeds, before going on to break the appearance record in the league in his final season, when he overtook Gareth Barry in Brighton's win over Brentford in February.

He ends as the third-oldest outfield player in Premier League history, with only Ryan Giggs and Teddy Sheringham playing in the English top flight older than Milner's 40 years, four months and 20 days.

Milner has made more substitute appearances (218) than any player in Premier League history, per Opta. Only eight players have scored more than his 13 goals as a substitute in the competition.

And his top-flight appearances came for six different clubs. Only nine players have played for more Premier League teams, per Opta.

Milner took to social media to announce his retirement in an emotional social media post.

He said: "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 - 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."

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