James Milner looks back on his record breaking Premier League career.
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What historical milestone did James Milner achieve in the Premier League?
James Milner makes history. His 654th Premier League appearance. One word to describe James Milner? Legend. Unique. Consistent. Dedicated. Intense. Brilliant. He just loves to win.
I think he's everything you'd want to be in a footballer. The Premier League loves James Milner.
Goodness me. He has done it again. James Milner's the name. Milner looking to get inside, Neville! That is an absolute stormer! Milner letting fly! That is special! It's Milner to strike!
That is perfection! Milner!
That is the perfect beginning for Liverpool! Milner! Oh, that's a terrific strike!
James, can we start with your academy upbringing at Leeds? It was a club thriving at the time with young homegrown players, Alan Smith, Jonathan Woodgate, Harry Kuehl and so on. Just talk to us a little bit about that period.
Yeah, it was an amazing time, I think. you know, being in the academy and then you're seeing the likes of those guys come through. I remember Alan Smith scoring with his first touch at Anfield and, you know, he was my hero, you know, growing up then at that point. He'd done what we all wanted to achieve and, you know, ball boying then, you know, the Champions League nights and I think Lee Bowyer's goal against Deci Milan in the last seconds and on a very wet night, you know, seeing that... and being a season ticket holder from being really young and going with my family and as a Leeds fan you know it was a dream really being at the club and being in the academy of a team you support.
And now a big moment in the young life of this fellow, James Milner, born in Leeds, just 16 years of age and won't be 17 until January. He's either a midfield player or he can play up front. been a star in the youth team, hasn't played that many reserve games, and this is his first team debut.
Tell us about your Premier League debut. What do you remember?
Yeah, I remember we were pretty comfortable in the game and then I thought there might be a chance I get on. And then I think we conceded a couple of goals. It might have been 4-1 up or 3-2, 4-2 or something like that. And then it went to 4-3 and I didn't think I was going to get on. And to be fair, Terry gave me the nod to go on. I remember coming on and I think... Lee Bowyer passed me a ball with my back to goal and I tried to pass it back and passed it to Paolo Di Canio and he put it over the bar, thank God. And I just remember Bowyer afterwards asking, did I ever bet on four all? Having a joke. But yeah, that was obviously a special day and a long time ago now.
16 years of age you were. How do you prepare yourself so young for playing against established Premier League stars?
I think by that point, I wasn't thinking too much about that really. I think the big thing for me was at first getting in and around the Leeds first team. I think the first time I trained with the reserves and I'm looking around and there's David Batty there and a few others and you're like, you know, these guys are my heroes and you're training with them.
How did James Milner's early career at Leeds shape him as a player?
And then you get sent up to train with the first team and you didn't really know. It was sort of mid-session and you got sent over. So that probably helped in terms of that and you just tried to... to go and do as well as you can. I remember the speed of even training. It was so fast and I was a pretty fit guy. It was like, this is so quick for me and you're breathing heavy and things like that. But then actually going into the game, I can't remember too much about being nervous playing against other Premier League players because for me, Leeds were an amazing team and I was training with these guys. So at that point then it's, well, go and stay in the team and be around. be around and do what you can.
So then to make your debut after travelling with the team two or three times, I think, before that and seeing Wayne Rooney doing what he was doing at that time, that obviously showed you again it was possible and someone else was doing it and made you even more eager to go and train really well and take a chance when you got it on the pitch.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What historical milestone did James Milner achieve in the Premier League?
0:00–3:13
2
How did James Milner's early career at Leeds shape him as a player?
3:13–10:26
3
What was James Milner's experience like during his Premier League debut?
10:26–27:48
4
How did a loan spell at Swindon impact James Milner's career?
27:48–31:45
Speakers
4 identifiedMore from Sky Sports Premier League Podcast
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