A remarkable 24-year journey has taken James Milner from humble beginnings to a record-breaking milestone in the Premier League, with his career spanning over two decades and numerous top-flight clubs.

Former Premier League referee Jon Moss recalls the time he sent off James Milner, saying, "People often joke that it was because he didn't do his homework," referencing their past as teacher and student at Westbrook Lane Primary School.

On Wednesday, Milner, now 40, made history by equalling the record for most Premier League appearances, drawing level with Gareth Barry's tally of 653 games, when he came on as a substitute for Brighton against Aston Villa.

Throughout his illustrious career, Milner has accumulated an impressive array of accolades, including 61 England caps, three Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and a Champions League triumph, as well as experiencing some unexpected moments.

One such instance was when Moss, his former teacher, dismissed him from the game while he was playing for Liverpool against Crystal Palace in 2019, earning a red card in the process.

Moss humorously recalls the incident, stating, "He said I couldn't wait to get my card out," highlighting the unusual circumstances of the situation.

Moss notes that he is likely the only teacher to have sent off a former pupil in a Premier League match, adding that they can both laugh about it now.

Milner achieved this milestone 8,491 days after making his debut for Leeds United, his hometown club, shortly after leaving school in 2002, drawing level with Gareth Barry at the top of the all-time Premier League appearance list.

According to Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler, Milner's focus extends beyond personal achievements, as he is driven by the club's ambitions and strives for success, much like he has throughout his career.

Hurzeler praises Milner as a key figure in driving a winning mentality within the squad, emphasizing the importance of having experienced players like him who know what it takes to win.

Milner's influence on the team is evident, as he brings a wealth of knowledge on how to prepare for games, react to adversity, and navigate challenging periods, making him a valuable asset to the squad.

Former Newcastle teammate Alan Shearer describes Milner as a model professional and a "manager's dream," highlighting his exceptional work ethic and dedication to the sport.

Shearer adds that having Milner in a squad is a guarantee of consistent performance, as he always delivers and sets a high standard for his teammates.

James Milner's story is one of evolution, as he has developed into a paragon of hard work, professionalism, and longevity, earning the respect of fans worldwide.

In 2002, a 16-year-old Milner celebrated scoring for Leeds in a 2-0 win over Chelsea at Elland Road, marking the beginning of his impressive career.

At the time, Milner was earning £70 a week as a YTS player, having broken into the first team at Leeds just six months after taking his GCSE exams.

On November 10, 2002, Milner's father, Peter, watched from the away end at Upton Park as his son made his debut, coming on as a substitute for Jason Wilcox in a 4-3 win against West Ham.

For Milner, this moment was a dream come true, as he had grown up supporting the club and idolizing players like Tony Yeboah and Tony Dorigo.

Just six weeks later, Milner became the youngest Premier League goalscorer at the time, scoring in a 2-1 win against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light, aged 16 years and 356 days.

Despite his achievements on the pitch, Milner's responsibilities extended beyond playing, as he was still expected to perform post-match duties, including cleaning the dressing room.

As a YTS player, Milner was tasked with cleaning the dressing room after first-team games, a duty he carried out diligently.

In a 2023 interview with the High Performance podcast, Milner recalled his experiences, saying, "Even when I was playing and scoring goals, after games I was helping the kit man pick dirty shirts off the dressing room floor."

Milner also remembered cleaning the boots of the under-18 captain, despite being a first-team player himself, demonstrating his humility and dedication to his craft.

Shortly after his debut, Milner was sent on loan to Swindon Town to continue his football education and gain valuable experience in the third tier of English football.

At the time, Milner had already made 18 Premier League appearances and scored a couple of goals for Leeds, earning the admiration of the club's fans despite his young age.

While some 17-year-olds might have been disappointed by the prospect of playing in the lower leagues, Milner saw it as an opportunity to prove himself and develop his skills.

Milner's attitude and work ethic during his time at Swindon impressed his teammates, including Sam Parkin, who recalls his determination and focus.

The question remains whether Milner's record will pose a challenge for Brighton, but his individual achievements are a testament to his enduring legacy in the sport.

Fans can test their knowledge by naming the players with the most Premier League appearances, with Milner now among the top performers.

In 2023, Milner was honored with an MBE for his services to football and charity, recognizing his contributions to the sport and his community.

During his four-week loan spell at Swindon, Milner played six games and scored two goals, making a positive impact on the team.

Parkin, who played alongside Milner at Swindon, remembers him as a committed and hard-working teenager eager to learn and improve.

Parkin recalls a particular game where Milner set up a goal for him against Brighton at the Withdean Stadium, showcasing his skills and vision on the pitch.

Milner's time at Swindon was a valuable learning experience, and he impressed his teammates with his attitude and performances.

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Pundits reflect on James Milner's remarkable career, highlighting his achievements and enduring legacy in the sport.

Milner describes his time in the lower leagues as a "bit of an eye-opener," citing the differences in culture and lifestyle, such as players bringing their own pasta to eat on the team bus.

Despite these challenges, Milner's dedication and work ethic earned him the respect of his teammates, including Parkin, who praises his exceptional attitude and performances.

Before Milner returned to Leeds, Parkin told him, "I never want to see you back here because you've got too much quality for this level," recognizing his potential and predicting a bright future for the young player.

Upon his return to Elland Road, Milner became a first-team regular, playing alongside notable players like Mark Viduka and Alan Smith, and continuing to develop his skills and establish himself as a talented young player.

On his 18th birthday, he played in a 4-1 FA Cup loss to Arsenal, which was followed by Leeds' relegation at the end of the 2003-04 season, prompting the team to sell players to generate funds.

As a result, England forward Smith was transferred to Manchester United for £7m, while goalkeeper Paul Robinson joined Tottenham for £1.5m, and Milner signed with Newcastle in a £5m deal.

At the time, Newcastle had finished fifth in the Premier League under the management of Sir Bobby Robson, with Shearer serving as captain.

However, it was during his time at Newcastle that Milner experienced one of the most difficult periods of his career.

A photo from his primary school team shows James Milner and Jon Moss together.

Shearer recalls that Milner had a strong desire to learn and improve his skills.

"He had the right mindset to get better, to be patient, but also to feel frustrated and angry at times, which is normal in a career," Shearer notes.

Robson was replaced by Graeme Souness, a former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder, just four games into the 2004-05 season.

A year after joining Newcastle, Milner was loaned to Premier League rival Aston Villa.

At the time, Souness defended his decision, saying "you won't win the league with James Milners," a comment for which he has since apologized, which had a profound impact on the young player.

By the time Milner returned to the North East, Souness had been replaced by Glenn Roeder as manager.

However, more challenges lay ahead for the team.

Milner is pictured with Patrick Kluivert and Alan Shearer during Newcastle's Uefa Cup tie against Olympiacos in 2005.

After impressing on loan at Villa, the team offered around £4m to sign him permanently in September 2006.

Although Newcastle initially agreed to the deal, they pulled out at the last minute, leaving Milner frustrated.

The situation left Milner feeling bitter.

It would take another two years for him to secure a permanent transfer to Villa at the age of 22, after making 94 top-flight appearances for Newcastle.

Milner spent two seasons playing under Martin O'Neill before making another move in 2010.

At that time, Chelsea had just won a Premier League and FA Cup double under Carlo Ancelotti and were interested in adding Milner to their squad.

Manchester City, who had not won a significant title since 1976, were also keen to sign him.

Milner was faced with a difficult decision.

In 2010, Milner helped Aston Villa reach the League Cup final.

Ultimately, he chose to join Manchester City, opting for the challenge of helping the team achieve success.

After five years with City, during which he won two Premier League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup, and one Community Shield, Milner left the team.

Throughout his time at City, Milner proved to be a versatile player, featuring in various positions, including as a lone striker, under both Roberto Mancini and Manuel Pellegrini, and was well-liked by his teammates.

Former City defender Micah Richards recalls, "We won the Premier League together in 2012, but there were times when things weren't going well, and he was one of the players who kept everyone's spirits up."

Milner was a key figure in maintaining team morale during difficult periods.

Richards developed a close friendship with Milner but was often wrongly accused of being behind the parody 'Boring James Milner' social media account, which poked fun at the player's habits and match details.

"Everyone thought it was me," Richards says.

"Whenever a new post appeared, Milner would joke, 'Come on, mate, you've had your fun,' and I'd respond, 'I swear, Millie, it's not me!'"

Richards eventually messaged the person behind the account, asking them to reveal their identity.

Although the person refused to disclose their name, they sent Richards a photo of themselves, which showed a random individual.

Milner has scored 56 Premier League goals, with 45 of them coming from his right foot and nine from his left.

During lockdown, Milner playfully posted a video of himself cutting his lawn with scissors, embracing the 'boring' tag.

After making 147 top-flight appearances for City, Milner was ready for a new challenge.

His next destination was Liverpool, where he won the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Uefa Super Cup, Fifa Club World Cup, and the Community Shield.

However, his time at Anfield was not without its challenges.

There was the incident where he received a red card from a former teacher, as well as a disagreement with Klopp.

On the High Performance podcast, Milner shared, "During a half-time talk, Klopp was expressing his thoughts, and I was sharing mine, when he slammed his hands on the table and told me to be quiet."

Despite the incident, Milner notes that he had a great relationship with Klopp, saying, "Jurgen was fantastic, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with him."

During his eight-year tenure at Liverpool, Milner accumulated seven trophies, a testament to his dedication and skill as a player.

Following his stint at Liverpool, Milner received an offer from Brighton in 2023, allowing him to extend his top-flight career, which has now spanned 24 Premier League seasons.

Notably, Milner became the second-oldest player to score a goal in the Premier League, surpassed only by Teddy Sheringham, when he converted a penalty kick against his former team, Manchester City, earlier in the season; he is eight years senior to Brighton's manager, Hurzeler.

After scoring, Milner paid tribute to his former Liverpool teammate, Diogo Jota, who passed away in a car accident last July, by recreating Jota's signature video game controller celebration.

Milner currently wears the number 20 jersey for Brighton, the same number Jota wore during his time at Liverpool.

In a post-match interview, an emotional Milner reflected on his goal, stating, "I hadn't scored in the Premier League for six years, and I was wearing his number; I think I had some help from above."

At 39 years and 239 days old, Milner set a record as the oldest player to score a Premier League penalty when Brighton defeated Manchester City last August.

The question remains: where does Milner, a veteran of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, rank among the all-time greats of the Premier League?

According to Richards, "Milner's name is often overlooked when discussing the greats, but he undoubtedly deserves to be included among them."

Paul Robinson, a former England and Leeds goalkeeper who played alongside Milner on the night of his debut at West Ham in 2002, attributes Milner's longevity to his unwavering dedication to the sport.

Robinson elaborated, "It's not just about what you do on the pitch; it's about every aspect of your life, from your daily routine to your diet and sleep habits, that contributes to your success at the top level."

Robinson praised Milner, saying, "His ability to adapt to the evolving game is a testament to his character, both as a person and a footballer."

As Milner's contract nears expiration in the summer, and having recently turned 40 in January, he approaches each game with the mindset that it could be his last.

A conversation with veteran Leeds goalkeeper Nigel Martyn, which took place 24 years ago, has stayed with Milner; Martyn advised him to appreciate his time in the sport, as it would pass quickly.

Milner recalled, "I was 16 at the time and thought Martyn's warning was premature, but now I find myself in a similar position, and I realize how fast time has flown by."

Milner's reflection on his conversation with Martyn serves as a reminder to appreciate the present moment, as his own career has progressed rapidly.

The question of who holds the record for the most Premier League appearances remains, with Milner being one of the contenders.

In a notable incident, Milner was sent off by a referee who was formerly a physical education teacher.

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