Milner's record in European competitions

BeSoccer 7 months ago 3.6k |

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Milner has played for five English sides in major European competitions. AFP

Starting for Brighton in the Europa League on Thursday, James Milner became the first player in history to play in major European competitions for five different English teams. In doing so, he overtook Peter Crouch and Jonathan Woodgate.

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Group B. MD 1

Brighton & Hove Albion

2-3

AEK Athens

21 SEP 2023

More than 20 years in the professional game commands respect, and James Milner is still breaking records in English football at the age of 37.

The Leeds-born midfielder, who now plays his club football for Brighton, is back in the Europa League after several Champions League campaigns with Liverpool. He was in the starting line-up for the Seagulls' 2-3 defeat by AEK Athens on Thursday.

In doing so, the former Three Lions international became the English player to play in major European competitions with the most Premier League clubs (5), after Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City and Liverpool.

He shared the record of having played for 4 clubs with Jonathan Woodgate (Leeds, Newcastle, Stoke City, Tottenham) and Peter Crouch (Liverpool, Portsmouth, Stoke City, Tottenham).

Including qualifying matches, Milner has made 28 European appearances for the Magpies, 6 for Aston Villa, 27 for Manchester City, 67 for the Reds and 1 for Brighton.

However, the winner of the 2019 Champions League is still a long way behind Nicolas Anelka, who has played for 8 different clubs in European competitions: Arsenal, Bolton, Chelsea, Fenerbahçe, Juventus, Manchester City, PSG and Real Madrid).