James Milner

James Philip Milner (born January 4 1986, Wortley, West Yorkshire, West Yorkshire) is an English people footballer who plays for the English club Newcastle United F.C., as a winger (sport) and left-sided midfielder.

As a child Milner was recognised as a talent in football, cricket and long-distance track event representing his school in each. He also played football for teams from Rawdon, West Yorkshire and Horsforth. He supported Leeds United A.F.C. from a young age and was a season ticket holder at the club before becoming a ball boy.

Milner began his career at Leeds by joining the Leeds United academy and was later taken on as a trainee. He first appeared for the first team in 2002 at the age of 16. He came to prominence when he became the youngest player ever to score in the Premier League. He has had loan spells with Swindon Town F.C. and Aston Villa F.C. before establishing himself in the Newcastle first team and has now made over a hundred appearances for them. Outside of football he is an easygoing person who rarely speaks to the media. At international level, he has made a record number of appearances for the England U21 national football team side. He remains part of the Newcastle starting eleven, featuring regularly in domestic and European games.

Early life

Born in Wortley, and raised in Horsforth, Leeds, Milner played most of his football as a child for Horsforth School. While playing there, Graeme Coulson, a coach from Rawdon, West Yorkshire recognised his talent and asked who he was. Coulson persuaded Milner to play for his Rawdon side in various tournaments. The team won a "prestigious" tournament in Rawdon Meadows with Milner scoring four goals in the final.

Milner was a "first class" student at Horsforth School, leaving with 11 General Certificate of Secondary Education, and winning an award for his performance in physical education. He and his parents Peter and Lesley were all Leeds United Season ticket, and Milner even became a ball boy because he wanted to get closer to the action. He also showed talent in cricket (sport) and played for the Yorkshire Schools team, and was an impressive Sprint (race) and Cross country running. He was the cross-country champion at his school for three consecutive years and the district champion over 100 metres for two years in row. He played against contemporaries from other clubs in the north, including Wayne Rooney. His role model was Leeds-born striker Alan Smith and he believed the chance to play with him worked as a learning curve because he had done what Milner was aspiring to do, come through the Academy and play for first team.

Career

Leeds United

Milner's début for Leeds United came on 10 November 2002 when he replaced Jason Wilcox for the final six minutes in a game against West Ham United. The appearance made him the second youngest player ever to play in the Premier League, at the age of 16 years and 309 days. Two days later he scored a goal against Chelsea F.C. that impressed many reporters. His first touch was described as "a beauty" and allowed his to avoid a tackle from Marcel Desailly and create a yard of space to deliver a curling shot from 18 yards away. His desire, ability with both feet and confidence in the game impressed several reporters. Milner's performance prompted comparisons to England internationals Michael Owen and Wayne Rooney, who also came to prominence as teenagers. The BBC even asked in a poll if he was a better prospect than Rooney.
On 10 February 2003, Milner signed a new five-year contract with Leeds after more promising displays.

At the start of the 2003-04 in English football, Milner was sent on a month-long loan to Football League Second Division side Swindon Town F.C. to gain experience as a first team player, which he saw as a "valuable experience".

However, Milner's club's fortunes differed somewhat as Leeds began to struggle in the league. Milner believed the experience made him stronger emotionally and it taught him how to deal with team problems. but Leeds rejected Tottenham's offer because they were based too far from his family home. Leeds also insisted that he would not be sold. The chairman of the team at the time even referred to him as "the future of Leeds". Milner was not informed that the team had any plans sell him. He took the opportunity, during this tour, to watch Alan Shearer dealing with being mobbed by fans and press. He said that being associated with people like Shearer taught him how to deal with the media. In September he made his début in European competition, when Newcastle played Israel Hapoel Bnei Sakhnin FC in the UEFA Cup. Then, after coming on as a substitute for Patrick Kluivert in a game against West Bromwich Albion F.C., he scored his first competitive goal for the club in a 3–1 win.

Following the sacking of manager Bobby Robson, who Milner belived was his mentor, new manager Graeme Souness allowed him to start 13 league games. The midfielder played his first full Premier League game for Newcastle on 24 April 2005, and made 41 appearances in all competitions by the end of the season, scoring once. Souness also made a controversial statement that the club would not win "with a team of James Milners". He was frustrated at not being used as a starter for most of the season. The 2004-05 in English football season was also where Milner scored his first goal for the England Under-21 side against Wales national under-21 football team in a qualification game for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship which England won 2–0.

At the start of the 2005-06 in English football season Milner scored his first European goal in a 3–1 win away against FK ZTS Dubnica in the Intertoto Cup, while also setting up the third goal for Shearer. Milner's vein of form continued when he scored again in the next round against Deportivo de La Coruña, but a clause in Newcastle's purchase of Nolberto Solano from Aston Villa F.C. resulted in Milner being loaned to Villa for the rest of the season. Villa manager David O'Leary, who had managed Milner at Leeds, said he believed Villa got the better of the deal, and that he hoped to improve Milner as a player.

Milner made his Villa début on 12 September against West Ham United F.C.. He scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur F.C. on 17 September. He then helped his side recover from being 3–1 down at half-time against Wycombe Wanderers F.C. in the Football League Cup with two goals in an 8–3 win. Although his side made a poor start to the season, Milner remained confident that they would recover after a break for international duty, praising the quality of the squad and the team's spirit.

O'Leary confirmed many times during the season that he would like to sign Milner permanently but doubted he would be given the opportunity. He even pulled out of signing Robert Huth so that he would have the funds to sign Milner permanently. Milner himself said he would like to join Villa because of the probability of being a regular starter, but admitted that his future was beyond his control. Milner was generally seen as a positive signing in what was a disappointing season for Villa.

Negotiations between Villa and Newcastle regarding the possibility of Villa signing Milner permanently began in May 2006. Newly appointed Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder appeared to have more appreciation for Milner's ability than Souness had shown, and expressed his desire to keep him at Newcastle. With a lack of transfer funds at Villa, in addition to a change of management at the club, a deal appeared unlikely. In June Villa rejected an offer for him to be part of a trade for Gareth Barry. It was rumoured in July that West Ham United F.C. had agreed to sign him for £3,500,000. However, when Villa were taken over by American billionaire Randy Lerner and he appointed Martin O'Neill as the new manager, the deal was resurrected. Villa made an improved offer to Newcastle on 30 August, after deliberations it was accepted by Newcastle chairman Freddy Shepherd. Media sources quoted the transfer fee as being £4,000,000. However at the last moment, Newcastle recalled Milner and the talks broke down.

The club's players and manager Glenn Roeder received the recall of Milner to Newcastle at the start of the 2006-07 in English football season positively. Roeder was criticised for the way he had handled the negotiations with Villa, but refused to apologise. He also highly praised Milner's ability, the way he had handled the Villa transfer fiasco, and confirmed he would play him in "plenty of games".

His first goal of the season, in Newcastle's 2–2 draw with Manchester United on 1 January 2007, described as "stunning", was scored from 25 yards away. He scored two more goals in the next three weeks, against Birmingham City F.C. and then against West Ham United F.C.. Both of these were also scored from at least 20 yards away from goal. Milner signed a new contract at Newcastle on January 20, which secured his future at the club until 2011. He scored another goal from 20 yards away on 31 January against Aston Villa F.C. in a 3–1 win in which he also provided an assist for team-mate Kieron Dyer. Roeder praised his progress during the season and stated that he believed Milner to be the hardest trainer at the club. During the 2006–07 season Milner displayed his ability to play comfortably on either wing, after scoring and setting up goals with both feet on either flank. In June, Milner competed for England at the European Under-21 Football Championship where he played in all four of England's matches. He was booked in the semi-final against Netherlands national under-21 football team, which meant he would have missed the final, he did however score twice in the penalty shootout, which England lost 13–12.

In May 2007 Sam Allardyce took over as manager of Newcastle and signed Milner to a four-year contract. Milner confirmed that he was happy about his future at the club and its new manager. He started the first game of the season against Bolton Wanderers F.C. and although it was rumoured that he would make his full England début in a friendly against Germany national football team, he was left out of the squad. He was however included in the Under-21 squad for a friendly against Romania national under-21 football team which was drawn 1–1. A month later he set an under-21 record by making his 30th appearance for the side in a 3–0 against Montenegro national under-21 football team in which he set up the first goal with a corner. Historically, players with several England Under-21 appearances have not progressed to become regulars in the senior side, therefore some doubted he would be able to successfully make the transition.

Style of play

Milner has a positive and unselfish attitude towards his teammates. He has the ability to pass and shoot with both feet. However he describes defending as one of his weaknesses and therefore usually goes forward for Set piece (football) and is often a candidate to take Corner kick or Direct free kick. This is supported by the fact he can produce accurate Cross (football) and is able to play on either side of the field although crossing ability has also been the source of criticism. He has been described as being "a good reader of the game".
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Off the pitch

Milner believes that being associated with players such as Alan Shearer has enabled him to learn how to deal with "things off the field". He takes an easy-going and optimistic approach to football. He sees himself as a funny person who is a hard-worker, confident and relaxed.