BRIGHTON, England (AP) — Premier League icon James Milner announced his retirement from soccer on Monday, bringing an end to a record-breaking career that saw him make 658 appearances in England's top division and win a full set of trophies at club level.
The 40-year-old midfielder played for top teams including Liverpool, Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Leeds over 24 seasons. He finished his career at Brighton after setting a new record for the most Premier League appearances and said it felt “like the right time” to walk away.
“I could never have dreamed of the journey l’ve been on,” he said on social media. “I’ve been fortunate enough to experience some unforgettable moments, from fighting for survival to winning trophies, playing in Europe, and representing my country, England, at two European Championships and two World Cups.”
Milner began his career aged 16 at his boyhood club Leeds and became the Premier League's youngest goal-scorer at the time.
He went on to win three Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups, two English League Cups and the Club World Cup.
At international level Milner won 61 caps for England.
“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,” he said.
James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Brighton's James Milner, front, duels for the ball with West Ham's Ben Johnson during the English Premier League soccer match between West Ham and Brighton, at the London stadium in London, Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
FILE - Brighton's James Milner runs during the English Premier League soccer match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, at The American Express Stadium in Brighton, England, Sunday, March 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Dave Shopland, File)
PARIS (AP) — Anna Kalinskaya of Russia made it to the quarterfinals of the French Open for the first time by defeating Anastasia Potapova of Austria 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (10-7) on Monday.
Their contest on Court Suzanne-Lenglen stretched to almost three hours after Potapova failed to serve out the match twice in the decider and Kalinskaya overturned a 4-1 deficit in the super tiebreak.
It will be 22nd-ranked Kalinskaya's second quarterfinal at a major after she advanced that deep at the 2024 Australian Open.
Despite pre-tournament men’s favorite Jannik Sinner losing in the second round, Italian fans will have at least one player in the quarterfinals.
Tenth-seeded Flavio Cobolli advanced to the second Grand Slam quarterfinal of his career — and also his first here — after beating American Zachary Svajda 6-2, 6-3, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (5).
His next opponent will be the winner of a fourth-round match later Monday between No. 4 seed Felix Auger-Aliassime and unseeded Alejandro Tabilo.
Big-serving Matteo Berrettini, the other Italian left in the men's and in the women's draw, faces Juan Manuel Cerundolo later Monday.
Also later, top-ranked Aryna Sabalenka, last year's runner-up, takes on Naomi Osaka in a match between four-time Grand Slam winners. It is the first women’s night match at the French Open in three years.
AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis
Italy's Flavio Cobolli returns to Zachary Svajda of the United States during the fourth-round tennis match at the French Open in Paris, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Italy's Flavio Cobolli reacts after winning the fourth-round tennis match against Zachary Svajda of the United States at the French Open in Paris, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
Austria's Anastasia Potapova returns to Russia's Anna Kalinskaya during the fourth-round tennis match at the French Open in Paris, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Austria's Anastasia Potapova returns to Russia's Anna Kalinskaya during the fourth-round tennis match at the French Open in Paris, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Russia's Anna Kalinskaya returns to Austria's Anastasia Potapova during the fourth-round tennis match at the French Open in Paris, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
Russia's Anna Kalinskaya celebrates after winning the fourth-round tennis match against Austria's Anastasia Potapova at the French Open in Paris, Monday, June 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
