James Milner's First Words After Breaking Premier League Record

James Milner, at the age of 40, has etched his name into Premier League history by breaking the record for the most appearances, surpassing Gareth Barry's 653 with his 654th start in Brighton's 2-0 victory over Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium.[1][2]

Substituted in the 90th minute, Milner received a heartfelt round of applause from both sets of supporters. His Brighton teammates pushed him forward to celebrate with the away fans at full-time, highlighting the respect he commands across the league.[1]

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live immediately after the match, Milner downplayed the personal milestone, emphasizing team priorities. "There's been a lot of talk about it. For me, anyone who knows me, the most important thing has always been the team," he said. "I'm delighted I was able to play a few more minutes today and at Villa and hopefully people can see I can still contribute to the team."[1]

Milner's journey spans five clubs: Leeds United, Newcastle United, Manchester City, Liverpool, and now Brighton. He has won three Premier League titles—two with Manchester City and one under Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool—along with two FA Cups, two League Cups, and a Champions League trophy.[1][2]

His versatility is legendary, having started in every outfield position across 441 Premier League starts. Debuting at 16 for Leeds in 2002, Milner holds the record as the youngest scorer in league history at that time, with 56 goals in total.[1][2]

Now clear of Barry, with Ryan Giggs (632) in third, Milner eyes further extension with Brighton's 11 remaining matches. Tributes poured in, including from Klopp, who likened the feat to "landing on the moon."[1][2] Milner's humility and longevity prove critics wrong, cementing a record likely to endure.[2]

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