James Milner

James Milner added another prestigious title to his collection as he won his first UEFA Super Cup. He started the 2019 match against Chelsea, which Liverpool won after a penalty shootout in Istanbul.
In December 2019, Milner committed his future to Liverpool by signing a new contract, reportedly extending his stay at the club until 2022, although the exact length was not specified by Liverpool. Later that month, he played a crucial role as a substitute in Liverpool's historic FIFA Club World Cup triumph, with the team securing a 1–0 victory over Flamengo in the final.


Milner continued to contribute to Liverpool's success, scoring a penalty in a 4–0 Premier League victory over Leicester City on 26 December 2019, which turned out to be his last goal for Liverpool. He celebrated another milestone on 25 June 2020, winning his third Premier League title and his first with Liverpool.
During the 2020–21 season, Milner's role became more limited, with just 11 starts and 26 appearances in all competitions. Despite this, he remained a valuable member of the squad, providing experience and leadership as Liverpool secured a third-place finish in the Premier League.


On 16 February 2022, Milner reached a remarkable milestone by making his 800th senior appearance at club level, coming on as a substitute in a 2–0 Champions League win against Inter Milan. He continued to showcase his importance to the team by scoring crucial penalties in both the 2022 EFL Cup final victory over Chelsea on 27 February 2022 and the 2022 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea on 14 May 2022.
On 6 June 2022, Milner extended his stay at Liverpool by signing a one-year contract extension with the club. He reached further milestones during the 2022–23 season, making his 300th appearance for Liverpool in a Champions League victory against Rangers on 5 October 2022 and his 600th Premier League appearance as a substitute against Southampton on 12 November 2022.


Milner made his 610th Premier League appearance, moving up to third place in the all-time Premier League appearance charts, during a 0–0 draw against Chelsea. In May 2023, Liverpool announced that Milner would leave the club at the end of the 2022–23 season upon the expiry of his contract, ending a memorable chapter in his career at Anfield.
On 14 June 2023, James Milner's transfer to Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion was confirmed, marking a new chapter in his illustrious career. He joined the club upon the expiry of his contract with Liverpool at the end of the month, agreeing to a one-year deal with the option to extend for another year.


Milner wasted no time making an impact at his new club, making his debut on 12 August in Brighton's opening game of the season. He started and played 79 minutes in the 4–1 home victory over Premier League newcomers Luton Town.
His experience and influence were evident as he continued to contribute to Brighton's campaign. On 16 September, Milner played a pivotal role in a memorable 3–1 away win over Manchester United, becoming the first player to achieve victory at Old Trafford with four different clubs. Notably, this victory also marked his 11th win against Manchester United, with six of those wins coming away from home, setting a new record for victories against the same opponent.


Milner's remarkable journey in the Premier League reached another milestone on 22 January 2024, as he made his 633rd appearance in the league. This home match against Wolverhampton ended in a goalless draw, but it was a significant occasion for Milner as he surpassed Ryan Giggs to claim the second spot in the all-time Premier League appearances chart. With this achievement, he now sits only behind Gareth Barry, who holds the record with 653 appearances.
James Milner's international career with England began at the youth level, where he quickly made an impression. After representing England at the under-15 and under-17 levels, Milner was promoted to the under-20 level and initially called up for the 2003 World Youth Championship. However, he was recalled by Leeds United just before the opening game.


His international journey continued as he received a call-up to the England under-21 team under manager Peter Taylor. Milner made his debut against Sweden on 30 March 2004, marking the beginning of a successful stint with the Young Lions.
Milner's contributions were pivotal during the 2004–05 season as he scored for the England under-21 team in a qualification match for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship against Wales. He continued to impress, scoring crucial goals for the team, including the winning goal against Switzerland, securing England's place in the playoff stage of the qualifiers.


Milner represented England at the UEFA European Under-21 Championship, playing in all four of England's matches. Despite England's loss in the semi-final to the Netherlands, Milner showcased his talent by scoring twice in the penalty shoot-out.
Milner's commitment to the under-21 team was evident as he became a regular fixture, setting a record with his 30th appearance for the team in a match against Montenegro. He played a significant role in England's campaign for the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in Sweden, helping the team reach the final.
Although England ultimately lost to Germany in the final, Milner's performances and leadership on the field earned him respect and admiration. His 46 appearances at the under-21 level remain a national record, reflecting his enduring impact on England's youth teams.


James Milner's international career with the England senior team was marked by his versatility and dedication to the squad. He made his debut in a friendly match against the Netherlands, coming on as a substitute for the final 23 minutes. Milner's competitive debut came in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Croatia, where he played the final nine minutes in a 5–1 victory that secured England's qualification for the tournament in South Africa.
Milner was part of England's squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals, featuring in several matches, including starting in the opening game against the United States. He played a key role in setting up England's only goal in the match against Slovenia. Milner's leadership qualities were evident when he captained England for the first time in a friendly against France in 2010.


During the qualifying campaign for UEFA Euro 2012, Milner played in six matches, earning a place in Roy Hodgson's squad for the tournament. He started all of England's group stage games as they advanced to the quarter-finals but were eliminated by Italy in a penalty shoot-out. Milner scored his first and only international goal in a 5–0 win against Moldova during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign. He was part of England's squad for the tournament but saw limited playing time, featuring as a substitute in the final group game against Costa Rica.
Despite being included in the squad for Euro 2016, Milner had minimal playing time, appearing only as a late substitute in one group stage match. In August 2016, he announced his retirement from international duty after discussions with manager Sam Allardyce. Although there were inquiries about his availability for the 2018 World Cup under Gareth Southgate, Milner opted to remain retired from international football.

References

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