From £70 a week to Premier League record 24 years later - Milner retires

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Image source, Getty ImagesByNeil JohnstonBBC Sport journalistThis feature was originally published in February 2026, when James Milner broke the record for most Premier League appearances."People joke that I only did it because he didn't do his homework," says former Premier League referee Jon Moss about the time he sent off James Milner.Twenty-four years after making his debut, Milner, 40, has retired from football after breaking the record for most Premier League appearances last season.A stellar career spanning more than two decades, six top-flight clubs, 658 Premier League appearances, 61 England caps, three Premier League titles, two FA Cups and one Champions League triumph has also delivered some unexpected moments.Like the time Milner - known as 'Milly', external by those close to him - was sent off by Moss, his former teacher at Westbrook Lane Primary School in Horsforth, Leeds, while playing for Liverpool against Crystal Palace in 2019."He said I couldn't wait to get my card out," laughs Moss about dismissing his former pupil after switching careers."People say I'm the only teacher to send off one of his pupils in a Premier League game. Some 17-year-olds might have sulked at the prospect of swapping the glamour of the Premier League for games against Grimsby and Peterborough.Milner saw it as a chance to show what he was all about.Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Milner was presented with an MBE in 2023 for services to football and charity'I never want to see you back here'During four weeks in Wiltshire, Milner played six games and scored two goals.Sam Parkin, who was at Swindon at the same time as Milner, remembers a committed and hard-working teenager eager to learn."James was determined, driven and focused compared to some of the other young lads we had from Premier League clubs," recalls Parkin."He made a goal for me against Brighton at the Withdean Stadium and I remember us both scoring in a win against Peterborough."Figure caption, Pundits reflect on the remarkable career of James MilnerMilner describes his time in the lower leagues as a "bit of an eye-opener", with Swindon's players bringing their own pasta to eat on the team bus.

He 'celebrated' his 18th birthday by playing in a 4-1 FA Cup defeat by Arsenal before relegation at the end of the 2003-04 season resulted in Leeds selling players to raise money.England forward Smith moved to Manchester United in a deal worth £7m, goalkeeper Paul Robinson went to Tottenham for £1.5m, while Milner signed for Newcastle in a deal worth £5m.Newcastle had just finished fifth in the Premier League, Sir Bobby Robson was manager and Shearer wore the captain's armband.It was at Newcastle, however, that Milner would go on to experience one of the lowest moments of his career.Image caption, James Milner and Jon Moss (both circled) in a photo for their primary school team'You won't win league with a team of Milners'Shearer remembers Milner having a desire to learn and improve."He had a great mentality to get better, to be patient, but also to be frustrated and angry - you get that at times during your career."Robson lost his job four games into the 2004-05 season and was replaced by Graeme Souness, the former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder.A year after signing for Newcastle, Milner was sent out on loan to Premier League rivals Aston Villa.Souness defended his decision at the time saying "you won't win the league with James Milners". I just told him, 'Keep it up - I love it!'"Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Milner's 56 Premier League goals include 45 with his right foot and nine with his left Milner played along with the 'boring' tag and during lockdown posted a video of himself cutting his lawn with scissors.After 147 top-flight appearances for City, he was ready for his next challenge.Next stop...Liverpool, where he won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Uefa Super Cup, Fifa Club World Cup and the Community Shield.It was not all trophies and smiles, however, at Anfield.There was that red card from his former teacher - and then the time he angered Klopp.

But Jurgen was great, I had a great relationship with him."Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Milner won seven trophies in eight years at Liverpool After Liverpool came an offer from Brighton in 2023 to prolong his top-flight career, where he continues to compete in what is his 24th Premier League season.Milner, who is eight years older than Seagulls boss Hurzeler, became the Premier League's second-oldest goalscorer behind Teddy Sheringham when he scored from the penalty spot against his former club Manchester City earlier this season.He celebrated by recreating Diogo Jota's trademark video game controller celebration in tribute to his former Liverpool team-mate, who died in a car crash last July.Milner is wearing the No 20 shirt for Brighton, the same number Jota wore at Liverpool."I've not scored [in the Premier League] for six years and I was wearing his number. Obviously, I've got help from the great man," said an emotional Milner after the match.Image source, ReutersImage caption, Milner, aged 39 years and 239 days, became the oldest player to score a Premier League penalty when Brighton beat Manchester City last AugustWhere does the player who represented England at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups rank on the list of all-time Premier League greats?"Milner's name never really is mentioned as one of the greats, but he is, without a doubt," says Richards.Former Leeds and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, who played the night Milner made his debut at West Ham in 2002, said his former team-mate had dedicated his life to remain at the top level."It's everything you do, it's how you walk around at home, it's what shoes you wear, it's how you sleep, it's what pillows you sleep on, it's what you eat, it's what you put in your body," says Robinson."And for him to have evolved the way that the game's evolved as well, it's huge credit to himself as a person, not just a footballer, but as a person."Will Milner carry on playing when his contract expires in the summer?