"I will always be thankful" James Milner announces retirement from football | OneFootball

Former Leeds United midfielder James Milner has announced his retirement from professional football, bringing the curtain down on one of the most distinguished and enduring careers in English football history.

Born in Wortley, Leeds, Milner joined Leeds United's Academy at the age of 10 and would go on to become one of the club's brightest young talents.

His first-team debut arrived on 10 November 2002, when he came off the bench against West Ham United at Elland Road. Aged just 16 years and 309 days, Milner became the second-youngest player ever to appear in the Premier League at the time.

Just over six weeks later, on Boxing Day, Milner etched his name into the history books once again. At 16 years and 356 days old, he became the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history when he found the net in a 2-1 victory over Sunderland.

The midfielder would make 54 appearances for his boyhood club, scoring three goals, before departing for Newcastle United in 2004. His transfer provided vital funds for Leeds United during a challenging financial period, helping support the club at a difficult time.

What followed was a career spanning more than two decades at the highest level of the game, breaking the Premier League's appearance record in February.

Milner represented Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton & Hove Albion, becoming renowned across the sport for his professionalism, consistency and longevity.

During his illustrious career, he won multiple major honours, including Premier League titles, the UEFA Champions League, the FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.

On the international stage, Milner earned 61 caps for England and represented his country at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, as well as UEFA Euro 2012 and UEFA Euro 2016.

In recognition of his contribution to the game and his extensive charitable work through the James Milner Foundation, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2022 Birthday Honours for services to association football and charity.

Announcing his retirement via Instagram, Milner reflected on a journey that began at the club he supported growing up.

"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 and Hove Albion qualifying for Europe for the second time in their history at the age of 40.

"To have gone on to represent Newcastle, Aston Villa, Man City, Liverpool and Brighton and Hove Albion - and not forgetting a memorable month at Swindon Town - 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. But more than anything, it’s the people and friendships I’ve made throughout the game that I’ll cherish forever.

"To the fans, thank you. To those who supported me every step of the way, your encouragement meant more than you’ll ever know. And to those who gave me grief along the way, thank you too - you all played your part in making the journey memorable and helping shape me as a player and person.

"To my family, thank you for every sacrifice, every mile travelled and every moment of encouragement. None of this would have been possible without you.

"I leave the game with immense pride, gratitude and memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Football has given me far more than I could ever have imagined, and I will always be thankful for the opportunities it provided.

"Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey."

Everyone at Leeds United congratulates James on an outstanding career and wishes him every success for the future.