Premier League legend James Milner hangs up his boots

LONDON: Former England midfielder and Premier League legend James Milner announced his retirement from English Premier League football after a 24-year career. Milner, who made his Premier League debut with Leeds United in 2002, has played for clubs including Manchester City, Liverpool, Newcastle and Aston Villa before retiring at Brighton and Hove. He won the Premier League title twice with Manchester City and once with Liverpool. He was also a part of Liverpool's Champions League triumph in 2019. He holds the record for most Premier League appearances (658). Milner retired from international football in 2016.

Milner was Mr Reliable during Jurgen Klopp's initial years in Liverpool, as the midfielder was often put in the right-back position due to the unavailability of players. Though there were doubts on whether he would deliver, Klopp was left perplexed after Milner acclimatised to the position and aced the role.

Klopp, during his time in Liverpool, called Milner a world 'role model' and opined that it was a pleasure and a challenge to manage a player of such high standards.