One of the last Aston Villa men in England World Cup squad has decided to hang up his boots due to his age.
The former Aston Villa star who was also one of the club’s last ones from Villa to earn a call up for England World Cup final squad, James Milner, decided to retire. The versatile midfielder who enjoyed his trophy-laden spells with Manchester City and Liverpool during the peak of their rivalry has considered that it is already the right moment for him to close the chapter in his playing career. His official statement was shared in social media as reported by Birmingham mail.
“After 24 seasons in the @premierleague, it feels like the right time to bring an end to my playing career. From making my debut for @leedsunited, who I supported growing up, at the age of 16 and becoming the Premier League’s youngest scorer, I could never have dreamed of the journey I’ve been on, right through to not being able to lift my foot last year and then coming back to be part of @officialbhafc qualifying for Europe for the second time in their history at the age of 40.
“Every club has played a huge role in my life and career, and I want to thank everyone involved – the owners, staff, coaches, teammates and supporters who welcomed me and helped me along the way.”
“To the fans, thank you. To those who supported me every step of the way, your encouragement meant more than you’ll ever know. And to those who gave me grief along the way, thank you too – you all played your part in making the journey memorable and helping shape me as a player and person.”
“To my family, thank you for every sacrifice, every mile travelled and every moment of encouragement. None of this would have been possible without you.
“I leave the game with immense pride, gratitude and memories that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Football has given me far more than I could ever have imagined, and I will always be thankful for the opportunities it provided.
“Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey.”
James Milner happened to the one of the last Aston Villa men in England World Cup squad before the current inclusion of Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final squad. Milner made the cut for the 2010 edition, when he was still playing for The Lions.
He rose to prominence with Leeds United but got his first call-up for England while playing for Villa. It was in February 2009 against Spain. The winger was only an unused substitute in that game. He made his debut six months later in a friendly match versus Netherlands. Milner made a contribution directly with one assist despite only coming off the bench. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
The Leeds-born winger featured in seven more games, including in three world cup qualifiers before earning one spot in the final squad. However, Milner was not the first choice yet. He did play in three games, registered one assist in the crucial game versus Slovenia which led Three Lions to go through to the knockout stage.
The winger with 61 international caps had some memorable games with The Clarets and Blue. He bagged his first goal in Villa shirt against Spurs as a loanee in the Premier League 2005/06 season. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. Milner also made three assists while helping Villa hammered Burnley 5-2.
His most memorable contribution for Villa beside helping them finish sixth in two consecutive seasons 2008/09 and 2009/10 was scoring four goals in a row in EFL League Cup 2010 from quarterfinals to the final. The Lions progressed to the summit but lost to Manchester United 2-1.
The post The last Aston Villa man in England World Cup squad finally retires appeared first on AVillaFan.com – Aston Villa Fan Site.
