'Fighter' James Milner is set to reach the Premier League 600 club
Time waits for no-one.
In an industry as relentless and brutally
competitive as professional football, reaching the top level is hard enough,
let alone staying there for 20 years.
More than just talent, it takes a special
mindset - a remarkable amount of focus, dedication and drive, especially with
the increased demands of the modern era. Few are up to the challenge.
Should James Milner make his 600th Premier
League appearance against Tottenham on Sunday - and though he was taken off
against Napoli on Tuesday, manager Jurgen Klopp said he "seems fine"
- he will join an exclusive list. Just three others - Frank Lampard, Gareth
Barry and Ryan Giggs - have reached that milestone.
Steven Taylor first encountered Milner on
international duty with the England Under-16s back in 2001. They rose through
the age groups together and were also team-mates at Newcastle United, who the
now 36-year-old joined from boyhood club Leeds in 2004.
"It's amazing. He's kind of the last one
of my generation and to see what he's doing is phenomenal. He deserves all the
credit he gets because of the way he is as a character," says the former
centre-back, reflecting on Milner's achievement.
"You know you're going to get 100% from him. He can play anywhere and he's a fighter. You want people like that out on the pitch. He never gets injured and you can always count on him. He's a guaranteed eight out of 10 every game."
Milner has always looked to squeeze everything
he could out of his career. Teetotal and a fiercely committed trainer, even as
a youngster he would gravitate towards the successful senior players in the
dressing room.
"He's around the right people and he's
always willing to learn. A lot of people, when they have one or two good
seasons, they ease off. There's a stage in a professional footballer's career
when they get that big contract and that bit of comfort. He's hungry all the
time," says Taylor.
"He's an absolute machine. At Newcastle
he was always smashing everyone in the runs. Pre-season was like a doddle to
him. It was how he prepared for games. How he looked after himself. He's a
manager's dream."
Following an earlier loan spell at Aston
Villa, Milner joined them permanently in 2008. Previously a flying winger, by
this stage he had evolved into an energetic and tactically astute central
midfielder, who would readily fill in elsewhere when needed.
"He knew every single position inside
out. He knew what the requirements and responsibilities were. He was a complete
player. He had the dedication to come in every day and push himself, and
everybody else, to get better results," recalls club captain Stiliyan
Petrov.
"I remember there was a meeting once and
he actually questioned some of the players' attitudes in training because he
believed the competitive side of it and the work ethic had to be on a different
level if we wanted to achieve what we were looking to achieve.
|
Most Premier League appearances |
|
|
Player |
Appearances |
|
Gareth Barry |
653 |
|
Ryan Giggs |
632 |
|
Frank Lampard |
609 |
|
James Milner |
599 |
"He couldn't accept average - it wasn't
in his vocabulary. He was excellent. He had to be first in the running and
shooting competitions. When the team goes through a difficult period in a game,
or a season, you look for players like that."
Petrov was most impressed with Milner's
unwavering attitude. Where others were inclined to complain, shift blame or
look for excuses when something went wrong, he held himself accountable and
always prioritised the team.
Although Milner raised standards at Villa, he
wasn't satisfied with finishing sixth and felt that his dream of winning major
trophies and playing in the Champions League could only be fulfilled by moving
on.
"He left a huge gap in our team, but we
couldn't blame him because he deserved the opportunity. He was just built to go
and make history, and that's what he's done. His destiny was to go and achieve
more," says Petrov.
Five seasons at Manchester City brought two
Premier League titles, among other honours, but Milner was rarely as central to
the club's success as he'd hoped to be. In 2015, Liverpool offered a fresh
challenge and increased responsibility.
"He played a huge part in changing the
culture when Jurgen Klopp came in and helping the team strive towards being the
mentality monsters that people refer to them as now," says former Reds
team-mate Adam Lallana.
"He still plays a pivotal role as vice-captain
in setting an example for the younger lads, the next generation. He helps the
management team in so many ways with the experience he's built up. He knows
what it takes to win. He knows what sacrifices need to be made."
Milner works hard behind the scenes, never
seeking the limelight. As an unassuming player, with a public persona to match,
he's often been undervalued or misjudged. A fluent Spanish speaker with a dry
sense of humour, there's more to him than meets the eye.
"I'm not sure how he got the boring
James Milner label, but he couldn't be further away from
that. He's one of the loudest in the dressing room for sure. Full of life. Full
of banter," explains Brighton midfielder Lallana.
"But he's definitely old school. Those
basics are always there and they'll never change. I think that's what's made
him who he is and given him his success. Those values that he'll always live
by. He taught me how to be a better professional and a better role model."
Over the past two decades, since his Leeds
debut in November 2002, Milner's career has come full circle. Once the
bright-eyed young prospect, he's become the respected veteran of one of the
world's biggest clubs, passing on his knowledge and inspiring others to follow
his lead.
Even now, his sheer enthusiasm for the game
remains undimmed. Tireless, resilient and determined, those who've shared the
pitch and the dressing room with Milner are clear on the characteristics that
define him and how constant they've been.
"He's never changed," says Petrov.
"He always has time for his team-mates, his friends and his family. This
is the biggest judgment and the highest praise for someone who's achieved so
much."
