**James Milner has returned to Liverpool to embark on a coaching career.**
Milner retired after 24 years as a player in the summer, having represented seven Premier League clubs and become the league’s all-time record appearance holder.
But the former midfielder is now planning to cut his teeth on the other side of the touchline and will be working with the Reds as part of his next coaching steps.
Milner, who already holds a UEFA ‘A’ Licence, is spending time with the Reds at their AXA Training Centre base in a casual role away from the first-team setup.
It had been rumoured that the 40-year-old was a potential candidate to join Andoni Iraola’s new-look backroom ranks in the role of a highly-regarded former player.
However Milner’s involvement will be overseeing various age groups at academy level, starting with coaching Liverpool’s under-11 side on the previous weekend.
The ex-England international previously assisted the club’s youth system during an eight-year spell that extended to the senior ranks for an FA Cup tie with Shrewsbury.
Jurgen Klopp stood down his entire squad and coaching staff for the fourth round replay in February 2020 due to it falling in the Premier League’s winter break.
But [erstwhile vice-captain Milner joined U23s boss Neil Critchley](https://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/36983-liverpool-1-0-shrewsbury-four-talking-points-neil-critchley-fa-cup-neco-williams-james-milner/), who took charge for the 1-0 win, and delivered a pre-match team talks to the club’s young guns.