BRIGHTON, England — On a crisp Saturday afternoon at the Amex Stadium, 40-year-old James Milner stepped onto the pitch for Brighton & Hove Albion against Brentford, marking his 654th Premier League appearance and eclipsing the record previously held by Gareth Barry since 2017. The milestone, achieved with a starting spot in the lineup, capped a career that began as a teenager and has spanned two decades of top-flight football. Former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who coached Milner for nine years, reflected on the achievement, telling ESPN, "What makes James Milner special? I don't know where to start, to be honest."
Milner's journey to this record is one of endurance and quiet determination. He made his Premier League debut on November 10, 2002, at just 16 years old, coming off the bench for Leeds United against Nottingham Forest. By the time Klopp arrived at Liverpool in October 2015, Milner had already amassed a wealth of experience, including a heartbreaking transfer from his boyhood club Leeds after their relegation in the 2003-04 season. Reluctantly moving to Newcastle United, Milner reportedly waived a £150,000 loyalty bonus to aid the struggling club, according to sources close to the matter. Lucy Ward, who mentored him at Leeds' academy and served as head of education and welfare, recalled his maturity: "He was more mature than the rest of his teammates, and ... he was dedicated to making sure he made the best of himself."
Over his career, Milner has suited up for six clubs: Leeds United, Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, and now Brighton. His trophy cabinet boasts three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, two League Cups, one Champions League, and even the lesser-known Intertoto Cup. Of his 654 appearances, 230 came under Klopp at Liverpool, where he played a pivotal role in the club's successes. Klopp emphasized Milner's foundational importance, saying, "Of all the success we had at Liverpool, nothing would've happened without him. That's how it is really."
Teammates and coaches alike attribute Milner's longevity to his unparalleled professionalism. Jordan Henderson, Milner's former Liverpool captain and current Brentford midfielder, described him as unbreakable: "You could never break him. No matter how bad the situation, no matter what's thrown at him, I always felt that he would react in the right way and come back stronger, come back better." Klopp echoed this, calling him "the most disciplined, stubborn, professional football player I have ever worked with." Even in his youth, Milner's work ethic stood out. Jon Moss, his former PE teacher at Westbrook Lane Primary School and later a Premier League referee, remembered an 11-year-old Milner who "cried a couple of times when we got beat for the school team," driven by frustration rather than defeat.
"If you said to me back then at 16 that he would still be playing in the Premier League when he's 40, I'd have said, 'Yes, I completely believe you,'" Ward added. "You just know there'd be no stone left unturned to everything that he did."
Milner's fitness regimen has become the stuff of legend in Premier League circles. Curtis Davies, a former Aston Villa and England U21 teammate, said, "He's the most professional player I've ever played with. Him playing past 40 doesn't shock me at all." Stories abound of Milner dominating preseason tests and endurance runs. Klopp recounted trying to rein him in: "I said, 'Milly, you are already the fittest one here, stop running.' But he just kept going." Sam Allardyce, who managed him at Newcastle, compared his dedication to Cristiano Ronaldo's: "There are no miraculous stories about James, other than he has the pure dedication of Cristiano Ronaldo in how he looks after himself."
This drive sometimes irked teammates. Nedum Onuoha, who played with Milner at Manchester City and for England U21, laughed about it: "I mean this as a compliment, but it's just really annoying! ... He gives 100% to everything, and you feel you must do the same." Ashley Young, a longtime rival-turned-teammate at Villa and for England, recalled Milner's insistence on extra training under Martin O'Neill: "I remember at Villa ... him not thinking that we'd trained enough — that definitely pissed people off." Even at age 40, Kevin Sinfield, a former rugby league star who collaborates with Milner's foundation, hears from Brighton staff that "he's still winning the fitness test; he's still driving standards."
Beneath the physical prowess lies a fierce competitive fire. Milner has long drawn motivation from doubters. In his book "Ask a Footballer," he wrote, "I've always been desperate to prove people wrong, desperate to be the best I can, to win every match I play, to win trophies and desperate not to lose." A notable slight came from Graeme Souness, his former Newcastle manager, who once quipped that you could never win anything with a team of James Milners. Young noted, "I think his motivation does come from people doubting him." Onuoha highlighted Milner's all-encompassing commitment: "Whether it's around ... being in the gym, whether it's getting the massages before, whether it's making sure you arrive at a good time, making sure you watch the video analysis of teams."
Henderson praised Milner's mental resilience during Liverpool's triumphs: "He can really push himself into a dark place [mentally], but despite the pain, he keeps fighting. You need those types of people in games, who dig in and go to the final moments." Early signs of this grit appeared in his academy days. Eirik Bakke, a former Leeds midfielder, remembered the young Milner arriving at training: "He just scored some unbelievable goals, and you're like 'f---, no,' as you know you've got competition for places. He was one of the boys straight away, even though he looked like a schoolboy."
Milner's versatility has been another hallmark, allowing him to adapt across positions and extend his career. Starting as a winger, he shifted to central midfield at Aston Villa in the 2009-10 season, played as a false nine for Manchester City, and even filled in at center back for Liverpool during their 2020-21 injury crisis. In 441 Premier League starts, he has lined up everywhere except goalkeeper. Klopp recalled a preseason conversation in 2016-17: "I asked him, 'What do you prefer, right or left back?' and he said, 'Neither.' ... He was not happy." Yet Milner excelled at left back that season until Andy Robertson's arrival.
James Milner's positional flexibility has kept him relevant amid evolving tactics. Davies marveled, "If he was told, 'You are going in goal,' he would make sure to have a special session with the goalie coach." Young, himself a positional chameleon, said, "That's key to everything, especially nowadays in the last six or seven years. Managers are playing different formations so players are adjusting all the time." Klopp credited this adaptability for Milner's endurance: "If you are fixed on one position, it's pretty clear over the years ... there will be a player in your position either as good as you or better. ... The more positions you can play, it gives you a longer lifetime."
Off the pitch, Milner's reputation as a no-nonsense professional has sometimes led to misconceptions. Labeled "boring" for his teetotal lifestyle, unchanging haircut, and avoidance of tabloid drama, he defies the stereotype through meticulous organization. Klopp defended him: "If you want to have [your vacation] perfectly organized ... take James. James will sort it — the driver will pick you up there, the hotel will be perfect, the rooms great. That's not boring for me. That's well organized and perfectly structured." At Liverpool, Milner effectively ran the dressing room logistics, including fine schedules for tardiness — a system so ingrained that Klopp had to rebuild it after his departure.
Milner's early influences shaped this ethos. At 14, a school report weighed soccer against golf, with heroes like Paul Gascoigne and Harry Kewell tipping the scales toward football. Signed to Leeds' academy in 1996 after a canceled Everton trial, he progressed through England youth teams, impressing with basics. Luke Moore, a former England U21 striker, said, "He had great fundamentals and mastered the basics in terms of being a professional even at that age. ... His only vice, I think, was golf." Simon Rix, bassist for the Kaiser Chiefs and a Leeds supporter, recalled young Milner retrieving balls from training grounds, cuts on his legs: "Looking back now, I feel this is a sign of the characteristics which would stand him in good stead."
The record-breaking moment arrives as Milner has faced or played alongside 49% of all Premier League players ever, including a matchup against David Seaman, now 62. Klopp likened the feat to "landing on the moon," predicting its longevity: "Reaching that number of appearances is just like landing on the moon. Maybe it only happens once?" Henderson agreed, stating Milner "deserves to break the Premier League appearance record."
Looking ahead, Milner's influence extends beyond statistics. Through the James Milner Foundation, he supports causes tied to Leeds Rhinos, raising funds alongside figures like Sinfield. As he approaches 800 appearances — Klopp mused about "game No. 780 or whatever" — Milner's legacy as a standard-setter endures. "I'm so happy for him that he's reached the landmark," Klopp said. "... Being part of something for eternity is really special." In an era of fleeting careers, Milner's story underscores the power of consistency, proving that what some call ordinary is, in fact, extraordinary.