BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Premier League icon James Milner announced his retirement from football on Monday, ending a record-breaking career that saw him make 658 appearances in England’s top division and win a full set of trophies at club level.
The 40-year-old midfielder played for 24 seasons with top teams including Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Leeds. He ended his career at Brighton after setting the record for most appearances. Premier League matches played And he said he felt “the time seemed right” to walk away.
“I never dreamed of the journey I’ve been on,” he said on social media. “From fighting for survival to winning trophies, playing in Europe and representing England at two European Championships and two World Cups, I was lucky to experience some unforgettable moments.”
Milner began his career with his boyhood club Leeds at the age of 16, becoming the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer at the time.
He won the Premier League three times, the Champions League, the FA Cup twice, the English League Cup twice and the Club World Cup.
At international level, Milner won 61 caps for England.
“To those who supported me every step of the way, your encouragement meant more than you could ever imagine. And to those who gave me grief along the way, thank you too. You all made this journey memorable and helped shape me as a player and a person,” he said.
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