James Milner announces retirement from football | OneFootball

The Premier League's record appearance maker James Milner has announced his retirement from football at the age of 40.

The versatile midfielder came through the academy at Leeds United before going on to have a storied career across some of English football's top sides, playing for Newcastle United, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, and most recently Brighton & Hove Albion.

During those spells, Milner won three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, two League Cups, and the Champions League.

At international level, Milner is the record England U21 appearance maker with 46 games played at that level before going on to earn 61 caps for the Three Lions.

"After 24 seasons in the Premier League, it feels like the right time to bring an end to my playing career," Milner said in a statement posted on his social media.

The 40-year-old spoke about his time at his clubs throughout his career before thanking supporters: "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."

In total, Milner played 696 games at senior level for club and country, scoring 87 goals.

        View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by James Milner (@jamesmilnerofficial)