Former Leeds United star James Milner is a Premier League record-breaker and has reflected on his career, including his time at Elland Road as a youngster
Scott Trotter
16:55, 21 Mar 2026
James Milner
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Former Leeds United ace James Milner has reflected on some of his best and worst moments(Image: Luke Hales/Getty Images)
James Milner has enjoyed a longer Premier League career than anyone. However, despite just 48 of his 657 Premier League matches coming in Leeds colours, the emotions were still felt most intensely for his boyhood club.
From becoming the Premier League's youngest goalscorer at 16, Milner has now made more appearances than anyone else and at 40, could become the oldest goalscorer in the division if he continues to play and can bag a goal next season.
But, in a highly successful career that has seen three Premier League titles and a Champions League win, Milner has also known heartbreak. Unfortunately, some of that had to come with Leeds.
Despite two European final disappointments and devastating injuries, it is a moment early in his career that still stings. The Whites' 2004 relegation was a brutal moment for a young Milner to take in, as his time with his hometown club was forced to come to an end.
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"Being relegated with Leeds I think is up there again," Milner explained. A long time ago, but you wait so long to play for your hometown club, and the year before I made my debut, I think we got to the Champions League semi-final. So, then a couple of years later to get relegated…
"I think any time you lose a final… I've been fortunate enough to win some trophies, but I've lost a fair few finals as well, so that's never nice."
Milner's time at Leeds was not entirely under a raincloud, however, and the Premier League veteran would love to live one moment again, despite having a number of major successes to reflect upon. He has been involved in some magical games for other clubs too.
James Milner in action for Leeds United during a 2004 Premier League clash with Manchester City
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James Milner was relegated with Leeds back in 2004(Image: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
"It's hard to do one. I think the early… first goal at Elland Road, the Chelsea game," Milner suggested. "I think reliving that as a Leeds fan and not being that old and not playing for Leeds that much longer, I'd love to experience that again.
"And I'd probably say it has to be Barcelona I think in the semi-final [for Liverpool in the Champions League]. Obviously, losing heavily in the first leg against a world-class team like Barcelona. And we had players missing on the night as well.
"I think to be able to turn that around and win 4-0 was an incredible night and, yeah, I think that was probably the most special evening."
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Milner recalled his first goals too. "I think I'd come on early for Harry Kewell maybe," the Brighton ace said.
"Jason Wilcox whipped it over and I got it at the front post. And then we played two days later at Elland Road - 26th, 28th we played - and, you know, came on early again - someone else got injured - and was lucky enough to score again.""
I look back now and you think how young you were," he added. "Three, four months before, I'd been doing my GCSEs and my mates were still in sixth form and coming to watch at Elland Road."