Former Leeds United man James Milner has broken the Premier League appearance record, and is already planning for life after playing.
United’s fight to stay in the Premier League this season includes a reunion with the new record appearance-holder James Milner.
Brighton’s trip to Elland Road, Leeds’ final home fixture of this season, sees Milner return to the place where it all began.
James Milner teases coaching pathway after playing career concludes
For Milner, stabilising Brighton in the bottom half of the Premier League this season is his primary focus. His reaction to eclipsing Gareth Barry’s appearance record said it all, talking solely about Brighton’s crucial victory away at Brentford.
The 40-year-old is thinking about what is going to follow when he eventually hangs up the boots. At his age, it can’t be long before he’s considering retirement from playing.
“I’ve done my badges and things like that,” Milner told talkSPORT. “Some days I think it’s a really good idea, other days you see people getting a new contract and managers getting sacked six weeks later. That doesn’t look too appealing.
“You see the stress those guys have and the amount of media they have to do and the responsibility they take on, it is a very difficult job which, again, it does appeal to me because it is so difficult.
“It is something you think, ‘I could do that, I’ll show you.’ Jurgen Klopp always said to me that whenever you finish, it’s important you have a rest when you’ve been 100 miles an hour for as long as I have.
“So I think whenever that happens, that will be the first port of call and we’ll see where we go from there.”
Huge Leeds United opportunity presented by James Milner amid Thorp Arch graduates spotted coaching
For Leeds, you’d imagine there’s possibly already been some casual dialogue about Milner coming to work with the club to sharpen his coaching skills.
Hailing from Horsforth (big up), Milner would no doubt be intrigued by a long-awaited return to West Yorkshire. And, coaching could be the means to bring him back.
He wouldn’t be the first Thorp Arch academy product to come back to the club to gain coaching experience in recent seasons.
Jonny Howson returned in the summer as an U21 player coach. Aaron Lennon has also taken up a coaching role in the U18 setup.
Also, while unconfirmed by the club, Danny Rose has also been spotted at the training ground in 2026, indicating he’s following a similar pathway.
Milner doesn’t confirm where or when he’d be taking up a coaching role anywhere. But, you would imagine that he’d have some interest in working at the academy where he started.
0% Love 0% Funny 0% Wow 0% Sad 0% Angry
Post navigation