James Milner made history on Saturday by playing his 654th match in the Premier League.
Milner played for Brighton and Hove Albion against Brentford, setting the record for the most appearances in Premier League history.
At 40, he surpassed Gareth Barry’s previous record.
Throughout his 24-year career, Milner has played for Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Brighton.
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After reaching this milestone, tennis legend Boris Becker shared his thoughts on Milner’s achievement on social media.
Boris Becker’s Reaction to Milner’s Record
Boris Becker, a three-time Wimbledon champion, commented on Milner’s accomplishment on X (formerly Twitter).
A video was posted showing Milner receiving applause from his Brighton teammates as he entered the away dressing room at the GTech Stadium in Brentford.
In response to the video, Becker said, “Unbelievable accomplishment.”
Becker is known to be a fan of Bayern Munich.
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In an interview with Sky Sports after the Brentford match, Milner reflected on his record.
He stated: “It’s a big number, but I haven’t focused on it much. It’s about the team and pushing forward. I want to acknowledge everyone who has helped me, including my family and friends.”
Milner continued, “I’ve had the chance to work with great clubs and people. I’m glad we won today and secured three points.”
James Milner’s Premier League Debut
Milner’s Premier League debut was in 2002 when he came off the bench for Leeds United in a match against West Ham.
He replaced Jason Wilcox in a thrilling 4-3 victory.
Photo credit should read PAUL BARKER/AFP via Getty Images
Reflecting on how the game has changed since his debut, Milner said, “The first tackle was free back when I started as a winger. You could get tackled hard and play on.”
He added, “The game has evolved in many ways. I’m grateful to have played through two different eras and to learn from many great managers.”
Milner mentioned managing greats like Terry Venables, Sir Bobby Robson, and Jurgen Klopp as influential figures in his career.