James Milner

english association football player
For other people named James Milner, see James Milner ( disambiguation )
James Philip Milner ( digest 4 January 1986 ) is an english professional football player who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Liverpool. A versatile player, Milner has played in multiple positions, including on the wing, in midfield and at full-back. [ 8 ]

Reading: James Milner

Milner ‘s endowment in football, cricket, and long-distance run was recognised early. He represented Horsforth School in these sports and played football for amateurish teams from Rawdon and Horsforth. He supported Leeds United from childhood, joining the Leeds Youth Academy in 1996. He made his debut for the first team in 2002 aged 16 and gained bulge as the youngest actor to score in the Premier League, and late spend time on loan at Swindon Town to gain foster first-team know. After Leeds United were relegated at the end of the 2003–04 season, Milner was sold to Newcastle United. Milner went on to make over 100 appearances for Newcastle United, winning the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 2006, and spent a class on lend at Aston Villa, before signing for Aston Villa permanently in 2008. After winning the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2010, Milner was signed by Manchester City, and went on to win two Premier Leagues, one FA Cup, one EFL Cup and one FA Community Shield. In 2015, Milner signed for Liverpool on a barren transfer, and was appointed vice-captain by modern coach Jürgen Klopp. He went on to win the UEFA Champions League in 2019, a well as his third Premier League deed, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. Milner made a phonograph record 46 appearances for the England home under-21 football team, playing at the 2007 and 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championships, finishing as runner-up in the latter. He won 61 caps for the full national team, scoring once against Moldova. He was selected for the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup squads, american samoa well as the 2012 and 2016 UEFA European Championships .

early liveliness [edit ]

Born in Wortley, Leeds, [ 9 ] Milner played most of his childhood football for Westbrook Lane Primary School in Horsforth. He was late educated at Horsforth School. Graeme Coulson, a bus from Rawdon, recognised Milner ‘s endowment and persuaded him to play for Rawdon in respective tournaments, including a tournament at Rawdon Meadows, where Milner scored four goals in their victory in the final. [ 10 ]

I noted his name and it was one not to be forgotten. He was an outstanding endowment scoring lots of goals but he was besides identical strong .

–Graeme Coulson [ 10 ]
Milner was described as a “ first class ” student at his school ; he left with 11 GCSEs and an prize for his performance in physical education. [ 10 ] [ 11 ] Milner played for the Yorkshire Schools cricket team, was the cross-country champion at his school for three straight years and was the district supporter over 100 metres for two years in a course. [ 10 ] He then completed his studies at Boston Spa School, [ 12 ] a sports college which was a spouse to the football baseball club. [ 13 ] Milner supported his hometown club Leeds United from a young old age. His earliest memory of the team was watching them win the FA Youth Cup in 1993. He and his parents, Peter and Lesley, were temper ticket holders and Milner by and by became a ball son for the cabaret. [ 14 ] When Milner was 10 years erstwhile, he joined the Leeds United Academy after being spotted by a scout while playing for Westbrook Juniors in Horsforth. [ 10 ] At the academy, Milner played against contemporaries from early clubs in Northern England, including future Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney. His function model was Leeds-born Alan Smith, who was then a Leeds United striker. Milner believed playing with Smith put him through a memorize curve, as Smith had done what Milner aspired to do in coming through the academy and play for the first team. [ 14 ] Having made beneficial advance at the Academy, Milner was taken on as a trainee after leaving school. [ 10 ] however, his beget insisted that he attend college once a week to continue his education. [ 15 ] Milner continued to excel in the young person team, and played for England at under-15 and under-17 levels. [ 10 ] [ 16 ] He helped the England under-17 team win the 2002 Nationwide summer tournament against Italy, Czech Republic and Brazil, scoring a goal against Brazil. [ 17 ]

Club career [edit ]

Leeds United [edit ]

Milner ‘s first-team introduction for Leeds came on 10 November 2002, in a pit against West Ham United, when he came on as a substitute for Jason Wilcox for the last six minutes. [ 18 ] [ 19 ] The appearance made him the second-youngest musician ever to play in the Premier League, at the age of 16 years and 309 days. [ 20 ] On 26 December 2002, at 16 years and 356 days, he became the youngest player to score in the Premier League, with a goal in a 2–1 win against Sunderland. [ 14 ] [ 21 ] His record was broken by James Vaughan of Everton in 2005. [ 22 ] In a match against Chelsea two days later, Milner scored again, with a deft first touch of the ball and maneuver, in order to avoid a tackle from Chelsea defender Marcel Desailly. [ 23 ] The maneuver created a yard of space for him to deliver a curling shot from 18 yards ( 16 molarity ). [ 23 ] Reporters were impressed by his overall performance in the match, particularly by his desire, confidence, and ability with both feet. [ 24 ] Chelsea director Claudio Ranieri remarked after the match that Milner had performed like a much more experience player. [ 25 ] The operation prompted comparisons to England internationals Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, who had besides come to footballing prominence as teenagers. [ 26 ] After more appearances for Leeds, Milner signed a five-year narrow with them on 10 February 2003. [ 27 ] At the begin of the 2003–04 season, Milner was sent on a one-month lend to Second Division club Swindon Town to gain have as a first-team actor. [ 28 ] Before the stretch, he saw it as a valuable experience as a musician. [ 14 ] He spent a month with Swindon, playing in six matches and scoring two goals against Peterborough United [ 29 ] and Luton Town. [ 30 ] however, Leeds ‘ fortunes were on the decline ; the team became the subject of numerous damaging stories in the media, and respective first-team players were sold. [ 31 ] Milner said he believed that this feel made him emotionally stronger and taught him how to deal with team problems. [ 14 ] Leeds ‘ eventual relegation to the Championship led to speculation over Milner ‘s future at the club. Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa and Everton all expressed an interest in signing him. [ 20 ] ultimately, Villa and Everton did not make offers and Milner rejected an offer from Tottenham as they were based excessively army for the liberation of rwanda from his family home, where he silent lived. [ 32 ] [ 33 ] Leeds insisted that he would not be sold with chair Gerald Krasner referring to him as “ the future of Leeds ”. [ 14 ] Nonetheless, fiscal problems finally forced Leeds to sell Milner to Newcastle United for £5 million. [ 34 ] Although Milner was not felicitous to be leaving the cabaret he had supported as a child, he wished to do what was “ in the cabaret ‘s best sake ” [ 14 ] and in July 2004, he agreed a five-year sign with Newcastle. [ 20 ]

newcastle United [edit ]

Milner made his first gear appearance for Newcastle United during their pre-season enlistment of Asia, scoring his first goal for the club in a 1–1 absorb against Kitchee, in Hong Kong. [ 35 ] During this go, he took the opportunity to observe how newcastle striker Alan Shearer deal with care from fans and the media and said that his association with people like Shearer gave him a better mind of how to deal with the media. [ 11 ] Milner ‘s first Premier League match for Newcastle came against Middlesbrough on 18 August 2004, in which he played on the correctly of the field as a winger, despite having featured regularly on the bequeath for Leeds. [ 36 ] When asked about this after the match, Milner said he had no preference where on the pitch he played. [ 36 ] A month late he made his debut in european competition, when Newcastle played in the UEFA Cup against Bnei Sakhnin from Israel, after coming on as a substitute for Shola Ameobi. [ 37 ] In the same month, he scored his beginning competitive goal for the club, besides as a ersatz, in a 3–1 win against West Bromwich Albion. [ 38 ] The situation changed for Milner after Newcastle director Bobby Robson, whom Milner considered his mentor, was sacked and replaced by Graeme Souness. [ 39 ] Under Souness, he started 13 league matches, but did not play his foremost entire Premier League match for Newcastle until April 2005. Milner said that he was frustrated at not being used as a starter for most of the season. [ 40 ] At the begin of the 2005–06 season, Milner scored in Newcastle ‘s 3–1 away win against FK ZTS Dubnica in the UEFA Intertoto Cup, and besides set up Alan Shearer for the team ‘s third goal. [ 41 ]

loan to Aston Villa [edit ]

A clause in Newcastle ‘s purchase of Nolberto Solano from Aston Villa resulted in Milner being loaned to Villa for the rest of the season. [ 42 ] Villa director David O’Leary, who had managed Milner at Leeds, was happy to acquire Milner in this manage, saying that he believed Villa got the better of the deal and that he hoped to improve him as a musician. [ 43 ] [ 44 ] He made his Villa debut on 12 September 2005 in a Premier League match against West Ham United. [ 45 ] Five days late, he scored his first goal for the baseball club in a 1–1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. [ 45 ] In a League Cup match less than a workweek late, he helped his team recover from being 3–1 down at half-time to win 8–3 against Wycombe Wanderers, scoring two goals in the moment half comeback. [ 46 ] Throughout the season, Milner was plus about his team. He remained confident that Villa would recover from a poor beginning to the season and praised the quality of the team. [ 47 ] Milner was by and large seen as a positive bless in a season that was disappointing for Villa. [ 48 ] Milner himself besides received the lend affect positively, saying that he would like to join Villa permanently because of the probability of becoming a regular starter, but said that the possibility of this happen was beyond his control. [ 49 ] Manager David O’Leary confirmed during the temper that he would like Milner to join the club permanently, but doubted he would be given the opportunity to sign him. [ 50 ] He flush pulled out of signing Robert Huth so that he would have the funds to sign Milner permanently if the opportunity get up. [ 51 ] The newly appointed Newcastle coach Glenn Roeder appeared to appreciate Milner ‘s ability more than Souness and expressed a desire that he remain a Newcastle player. [ 52 ] This, arsenic well as the departure of O’Leary and the deficit of remove funds at Villa, meant that a cope to sign Milner permanently seemed unlikely. [ 53 ] In June, it became even less probably when Villa rejected an put up of Milner as depart of a trade for Gareth Barry. [ 54 ] however, the deal was resurrected when Villa were taken over by american billionaire Randy Lerner, and Martin O’Neill was appointed as new coach. [ 55 ] A act to Villa appeared to have been agreed, but at the last here and now Newcastle recalled Milner and the talks broke down. [ 56 ] [ 57 ]

return to Newcastle United [edit ]

Newcastle ‘s players and coach Glenn Roeder reacted positively to Milner ‘s return at the start of the 2006–07 season. [ 58 ] Milner was a starter in the Newcastle team for the stallion season. [ 56 ] Newcastle made a poor starting signal in the 2006–07 Premier League, but in european rival, Milner played a key function in helping Newcastle reach the orotund of 16 of the UEFA Cup, playing all but one of the Magpies 12 games. [ 59 ] Rumours began to spread that he would be sold during the transfer window in January, although both Milner and Roeder dismissed these rumours. [ 60 ] On 1 January 2007, Milner scored his inaugural goal of the season in a 2–2 draw with Manchester United. [ 59 ] The goal came from a “ stunning ” inject from 25 yards ( 23 meter ) away. [ 61 ] He scored two more goals during the future three weeks, against Birmingham City and then against West Ham United. [ 59 ] During the season, Milner displayed his ability to play comfortably in a range of different positions by scoring and setting up goals with both feet from both sides. [ 62 ] As a leave, Milner signed a new contract at Newcastle in January, which secured his future at the club until 2011. [ 63 ] [ 64 ] He signed another four-year narrow in May 2007, when Sam Allardyce took over as director of Newcastle. [ 65 ] Milner said later in the year that he was glad about his future at the baseball club and its new director, saying that the educate sessions were “ the best since I have been hera ”. [ 66 ] Allardyce said during the season that Milner was therefore bang-up to play, that he was concerned he would “ burn out mentally [ and ] physically ”. [ 67 ] As a resultant role, Milner played chiefly as a substitute in the early on separate of the season. [ 68 ] In late October, he scored Newcastle ‘s five-hundredth home Premier League goal in a 3–1 winnings over Tottenham Hotspur. [ 69 ] A second Premier League finish of the season came fortunately in the Tyne–Wear bowler hat from a shot intended as a cross. [ 70 ] Allardyce praised Milner during the season, saying he was “ a enormously experienced Premier League player ”. [ 71 ] After missing the final nine matches of the temper due to a foot injury, [ 72 ] it was rumoured in May 2008 that Milner would be part of a transfer between Newcastle and Liverpool. [ 73 ] Despite starting the season for Newcastle and scoring in a League Cup win over Coventry City, it was revealed after the pit that Milner had handed in a written transfer request the week ahead. [ 74 ]

Aston Villa [edit ]

Milner signed for Aston Villa on 29 August 2008 for a tip of £12 million, [ 75 ] and signed a four-year contract with the golf club. [ 76 ] Milner made his debut for Villa on 31 August 2008 as a second-half alternate against Liverpool. [ 77 ] His first goals in his second base spell at Villa came in a third gear polish FA Cup tie against Gillingham at Priestfield Stadium on 4 January 2009 on his 23rd birthday, where he scored both goals in a 2–1 win for Villa. [ 78 ] Milner ‘s beginning Premier League goal in his second while at Villa came on 17 January 2009 in a 2–1 succeed against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. [ 79 ] On 7 February 2009, Milner was named to the England elder team squad for the first time, after a streak at club flat that had impressed England director Fabio Capello. [ 80 ] Milner continued to impress and, on 7 February, scored his irregular league goal of the temper against Blackburn Rovers. This was followed by a 25-yard release kick at dwelling against Everton as Villa came back from a 3–1 deficit to draw 3–3 on 12 April. [ 81 ] He stated that his time at Villa is the “ most decide ” period of his career then far, having played for thirteen managers and caretakers despite being alone 23. [ 82 ] [ 83 ] At the depart of the 2009–10 temper, Milner moved into the center of midfield [ 84 ] after the sale of captain Gareth Barry to Manchester City. [ 85 ] On 28 February 2010, he scored the hatchway goal in the 2010 League Cup Final with a penalty. [ 86 ] Villa were finally beaten 2–1 by Manchester United. [ 86 ] Milner ended the season with 12 goals and was named Aston Villa ‘s Fan ‘s Player of the year and PFA Young Player of the Year. [ 87 ] On 19 May 2010, Manchester City made a £20 million offer for Milner which was rejected. [ 88 ] On 22 July 2010, Villa coach Martin O’Neill said that Milner had shown a desire to leave Villa for City, but would alone be sold at Villa ‘s evaluation. [ 89 ] On 14 August, despite being on the verge of a affect to Manchester City, Milner played in Villa ‘s first gear match of the season against West Ham United, scoring Villa ‘s third goal. [ 90 ] Milner was given a standing ovation when he was substituted near the end of the match. [ 91 ]

Manchester City [edit ]

On 17 August 2010, it was reported that Aston Villa had agreed a deal with Manchester City to sell Milner national to a medical. [ 92 ] The deal was reported to be worth around £26 million, [ 93 ] including a player commute of Stephen Ireland. [ 94 ] Milner made his debut for City on 23 August 2010 in a 3–0 home win against Liverpool, where he set up the first finish for former Villa teammate Gareth Barry. [ 95 ] Milner scored his beginning competitive goal for Manchester City in an FA Cup third-round match at Leicester City which ended in a 2–2 draw. [ 96 ] The Leicester equal was the startle of a cup run that saw Manchester City reach the 2011 FA Cup Final. [ 97 ] Milner was an idle utility as Manchester City beat Stoke City 1–0 to win the FA Cup. [ 98 ] Milner scored his beginning Premier League finish for Manchester City against Everton on 24 September 2011. [ 99 ] Two matches late, he scored his irregular, against erstwhile club Aston Villa in a 4–1 win. [ 100 ] The stick to week, Milner had a hand in two goals as Manchester City won the Manchester bowler hat at Old Trafford 6–1, inflicting Manchester United ‘s heaviest home league defeat since 1930. [ 101 ] Over the course of the 2011–12 season, Milner made 26 Premier League appearances as Manchester City won the league title for the first time in 44 years. [ 102 ] Milner won his first Community Shield in August 2012, as City beat Chelsea at Villa Park. [ 103 ] On 6 October 2012, Milner scored his first goal of the 2012–13 season from a absolve kick to seal a 3–0 win against Sunderland. [ 104 ] On 20 October, he received his first Premier League bolshevik menu in a 2–1 win at West Bromwich Albion. [ 105 ] On 13 January 2013, he scored City ‘s opening goal in a 2–0 away win at Arsenal, which was the first base time a City actor had scored away at Arsenal in the League since 2007 and City ‘s first acquire in the league at Arsenal since 1975. [ 106 ] On 8 April, he scored in the Manchester bowler hat as City beat Manchester United 2–1 at Old Trafford. [ 107 ]

liverpool [edit ]

On 4 June 2015, Milner agreed to join Liverpool on a free transfer from Manchester City. [ 113 ] [ 114 ] On 7 August 2015, Milner was announced as the vice-captain. [ 115 ] Milner played his first competitive match for the baseball club in 1–0 acquire over Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. [ 116 ] Milner captained Liverpool for the first time on his third gear appearance for the cabaret, a 0–0 drawing card at Arsenal. [ 117 ] On 26 September 2015, he scored his debut goal for Liverpool in a 3–2 acquire against his erstwhile club Aston Villa at Anfield. [ 118 ] He appeared in the 2016 UEFA Europa League Final at the end of his beginning season with the club. [ 119 ] Milner ended his first season with Liverpool scoring seven goals in all competitions. [ 120 ] On 19 March 2017, Milner scored in Liverpool ‘s 1–1 draw against former club Manchester City. In doing so, he broke a Premier League record by a musician for the most matches scored in without lose ( 47 matches ). [ 121 ] On 4 April 2018, he equalled the Champions league aid record ( 8 assists ) by assisting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain ‘s finish against Man City in the quarter-final first peg. [ 122 ] On 24 April 2018, Milner broke that record, becoming the first player in Champions League history to provide 9 assists in a single season, setting up Roberto Firmino ‘s second goal during the 5–2 semi-final, first peg win v Roma. [ 123 ] In November 2018, Milner scored his fiftieth Premier League goal during a 1–1 draw at Arsenal. [ 124 ] The following month, Milner became just the 13th player ( and the 2nd youngest after former Aston Villa, Man City and England teammate Gareth Barry ) in Premier League history to reach 500 appearances, during a 4–0 win at Bournemouth. [ 125 ] On 1 June 2019, Milner won his foremost Champions League title, coming on as a substitute in the concluding against Tottenham, as Liverpool won 2–0 in the final. [ 126 ] On 14 August 2019, Milner won his beginning UEFA Super Cup, starting the equal against Chelsea, as the Champions League holders beat the Europa League winners on penalties in Istanbul. [ 127 ] In December 2019, Milner signed a new contract reportedly keeping him at the golf club until 2022, although Liverpool did not specify the contract duration. [ 128 ] Later that month, Milner came on as a utility as Liverpool won the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time in the club ‘s history, beating Flamengo 1–0 in the final examination. [ 129 ] On 25 June 2020, Milner won his third gear Premier League title and his first for Liverpool. [ 130 ] Milner was not a regular newcomer during the 2020–21 temper amassing good 11 starts and making 26 appearances in all competitions. [ 131 ] As a result, he registered the first scoreless season of his career. [ 132 ] He distillery remained an crucial actor as Liverpool overcame multiple difficulties to finish 3rd, qualifying for the surveil season ‘s Champions League on the concluding day of the temper. [ 133 ]

International career [edit ]

young [edit ]

After representing England at the under-15 and under-17 levels, Milner was promoted to the under-20 level and called up for the 2003 World Youth Championship, but was recalled by Leeds United 4 days before the possibility game. [ 134 ] soon after this, under-21 director Peter Taylor called him up to the England under-21 team and Milner made his debut against Sweden on 30 March 2004. [ 135 ] Milner scored for the England under-21 team during the 2004–05 season in a qualification match for the 2007 UEFA european Under-21 Championship, against Wales. [ 136 ] During the match, in which he played in the center of midfield, he set up a score chance for Darren Bent as the Young Lions won 2–0. [ 137 ] Despite domestic club troubles, he continued to make progress at international level, scoring the fetching goal for the England under-21 team in a 3–2 acquire over Switzerland. The win secured England a place in the playoff stagecoach of the 2007 UEFA european Under-21 Championship qualifiers. [ 138 ] In June, Milner competed for England at the 2007 UEFA european Under-21 Championship. [ 139 ] He played in all four of England ‘s matches and was booked in the semi-final against the Netherlands, which meant he would have missed the final. [ 140 ] The pit was decided by a penalty shoot-out, in which Milner scored doubly and England lost 13–12. [ 141 ] Milner was included in the under-21 team for a friendly against Romania, which ended in a 1–1 draw. [ 142 ] A month late, Milner set an England under-21 commemorate by making his thirtieth appearance for the team in a 3–0 succeed against Montenegro. [ 143 ] Historically, players with several England Under-21 appearances have not progressed to become regulars in the senior team, which has led some to doubt whether Milner would be able to successfully make the transition. [ 144 ] In October, he scored his third goal for the under-21 team in a 3–0 winnings over Republic of Ireland. [ 145 ] He scored again in the reappearance match four months later that England besides won 3–0. [ 146 ] Milner continued to be a regular and was the lone player, along with Joe Hart and captain Steven Taylor, to have played in all the qualifiers for the 2009 UEFA european Under-21 Championship. [ 147 ] In the summer of 2009, he was in the final 23-man U21 police squad for the 2009 UEFA european Under-21 Championship in Sweden. [ 148 ] He helped set up the winning goal for Micah Richards against Finland, and director Stuart Pearce said after the match, “ The contemporary full-back can get up and down the pitch and I knew [ Milner ] would be comfortable ”. [ 149 ] In England ‘s moment match against Spain, Milner had a penalty saved by Sergio Asenjo, and scored England ‘s second goal in a 2–0 win. [ 150 ] England faced the hosts Sweden in the semi-finals. After the match ended in a 3–3 draw, it went to a punishment shoot-out. [ 151 ] Milner was the merely England player to miss in the shoot-out after he slipped just before kicking the ball, causing it to go over the crossbar. [ 152 ] England won the shoot-out 5–4 to advance to the final examination for the first base time in 25 years. [ 151 ] England lost the final examination to Germany 4–0 and Milner said after the match that the team was “ hurt ” and that the manner in which the team lost was “ not good enough ”. [ 153 ] The concluding was his last match for the under-21 team. [ 154 ] His 46 appearances at under-21 degree are a national read. [ 155 ]

senior [edit ]

In August 2009, Milner made his debut for the England senior team, when he came on as a substitute in a friendly match against the Netherlands for the final 23 minutes. [ 156 ] The match ended in a 2–2 draw. [ 156 ] He played again for England the following calendar month against Slovenia in another friendly and made his competitive debut four days subsequently in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Croatia, where he played the final nine minutes. [ 157 ] [ 158 ] England won the latter match 5–1 to secure reservation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. [ 158 ] He was named in the final 23-man police squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa and was selected in the begin eleven for England ‘s first match of the tournament against the United States, although he was substituted after 30 minutes. [ 159 ] In England ‘s third peer against Slovenia, he set up the lone goal of the match with a cross for Jermain Defoe. [ 160 ] He captained England for the first time for the final 10 minutes of the match in a 2–1 loss against France on 17 November 2010, when both Rio Ferdinand and Steven Gerrard had been substituted. [ 161 ] Milner played in six matches during qualifying for UEFA Euro 2012, and was named in Roy Hodgson ‘s 23-man police squad for the tournament. [ 162 ] Milner started Hodgson ‘s first match in charge, a 1–0 friendly win against Norway. [ 163 ] He started all of England ‘s group stage games as the Three Lions finished exceed of group D and qualified for the quarter finals. [ 164 ] [ 165 ] [ 166 ] He started but was taken off after an hour as England were eliminated by Italy in a punishment shoot-out. [ 167 ] On 7 September 2012, Milner scored his beginning and only international goal in a 5–0 gain away to Moldova during 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying. [ 168 ] Milner was included in Hodgson ‘s squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. [ 169 ] however, Milner failed to secure a regular starting place, coming on as a substitute in the final group plot against Costa Rica after England had already been eliminated, with the game ending in a 0–0 attract. [ 170 ] Milner was depart of the England police squad for EURO 2016, [ 171 ] but once again was ineffective to secure unconstipated play time. Milner played equitable five minutes in the group stagecoach, coming on as a deep alternate against Russia, [ 172 ] and did not play in England ‘s loss to Iceland in the round of 16. [ 173 ] On 5 August 2016, Milner announced his retirement from international duty following discussions with new England director Sam Allardyce. [ 174 ]

style of maneuver [edit ]

Milner is renowned for his versatility ; across his career, Milner has played as a central midfielder, a defensive midfielder and as an attacking midfielder, a well as on the wing, and as a full-back, with Milner ‘s prefer military position being as a central midfielder. [ 175 ] During his prison term at Leeds United, Milner predominantly played as a winger, before moving into central midfield during his time at Aston Villa. [ 175 ] Milner is regarded as being a retentive football player. [ 15 ] [ 47 ] [ 176 ] As a result, his main role on the team is as a wide-eyed midfielder who creates scoring opportunities. [ 177 ] While Milner does not score many goals, he does have a commodity read at providing assists, with over 80 in the Premier League placing him 8th all time. [ 178 ] [ 179 ] Nolberto Solano, a former teammate, said that because of his ability, Milner would “ become an authoritative team musician ”. [ 180 ] After his move to Newcastle, he began playing more as a winger. [ 36 ] He has been described as “ comfortable on either fly ”. [ 178 ] He has besides been used occasionally as a central midfielder, a striker and as an emergency right-back, broadly during an wound crisis. [ 181 ] Manuel Pellegrini, who managed Milner at Manchester City, described him as the most complete English player in the modern game, praising his all turn ability, commitment, performance level and versatility. [ 182 ] Milner has the ability to pass accurately and shoot from a great outdistance from goal. [ 178 ] As a consequence, he normally goes fore for set pieces and is frequently a campaigner to take corners and dislodge kicks. [ 183 ] Critical opinion is divided as to Milner ‘s crossing ability. While some commentators have been critical of his ability in this area, other journalists have said that Milner can produce accurate crosses. [ 178 ] [ 184 ] [ 185 ]

All my life I ‘ve wanted to do what I ‘m doing now. now I ‘m here, and enjoying every minute of it. You ‘ve got to make a few sacrifices, but I do n’t mind that .

–James Milner [ 15 ]
Milner, in his time at the club, was described on the Newcastle United official web site as “ a adept reader of the game ”. [ 186 ] This awareness allows him to pass the ball from a stove of positions to teammates making forward runs, ampere good as giving him the confidence to take on defenders. [ 183 ] His awareness and willingness to pass at the old age of 17 were seen as ripe for a player of his historic period. [ 26 ] Under Jürgen Klopp, Milner spent all of the 2016–17 season play at left-back for Liverpool. Milner stated he did not enjoy playing as a left-back but besides said : “ It ‘s about whatever ‘s best for the team and ultimately I fair want to be out there playing games, contributing and helping this football club. ” [ 187 ] [ 188 ] He besides played in a holding function and in a box-to-box character on occasion, drawing praise in the media for his dynamism, energy, work-rate, and consistent performances. [ 189 ] In 2015, The Telegraph included him at number seven in their list of “ The top 20 most under-rated footballers of all time ”, describing him as “ unvoiced working, authentic and healthy. ” [ 190 ]

career statistics [edit ]

club [edit ]

As of match played 1 December 2021

International [edit ]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team
Year
Apps
Goals

England

2009
6
0

2010
9
0

2011
8
0

2012
11
1

2013
10
0

2014
9
0

2015
4
0

2016
4
0

Total
61
1

England score listed first, score column indicates score after Milner goal.[157]

List of international goals scored by James Milner

No.

Date

Venue

Cap

Opponent

Score

Result

Competition

Ref.

1
7 September 2012
Zimbru Stadium, Chișinău, Moldova
32
Moldova
4–0
5–0
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
[210]

Honours [edit ]

Newcastle United
Aston Villa
Manchester City
Liverpool
England U21
Individual