In terms of goals, James Milner hasn't exactly been setting the world on fire since arriving at Liverpool this summer. Recently, though, Milner has been getting a lot of attention in the press, and for good reason. First, following his first game in charge, new Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp praised Milner as "the complete footballer" and "the perfect professional." Klopp was praising the entire Liverpool squad when he said those words, noting that the Reds have everything they need to be a winning team. But the praise for Milner rings especially true, considering the fact that the new Liverpool transfer was named the hardest-working player in the entire Premier League. Find out more and keep reading this James Milner player profile.
The title, of 'hardest-working player', handed down by EA Sports-the company that makes the FIFA video games-was arrived at by tallying the stats for how much distance each EPL player has covered so far during the 2015 2016 season. In the first nine matches of the 2015 2016 Premier League campaign, Milner has run an astounding 113 kilometers. That number averages out to 12.55 kilometers per game-or roughly 7.8 miles, for our American readers.
James dominated a list that included two Bournemouth players at second and third place-Andrew Surman and Matt Ritchie-with Surman taking silver with 108.62 kilometers. No other players from Liverpool finished in the top eight, nor did any footballers from flagship teams like Manchester City and Manchester United. Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey slotted in at fourth, with 105.39 kilometers, while Chelsea's Cesc Fabregas ran 101.75 kilometers to finish seventh on the EA-compiled list.
A Star for Liverpool's New Era
Stats show that Milner has run further than the rest of his Liverpool teammates in every single Premier
League match. It's not surprising that Jurgen Klopp was impressed by the 29-year-old midfielder's performances: Klopp has traditionally been a coach that has emphasized work rate, speed, and distance in his teams. Milner might just be Klopp's perfect kind of soccer player.
Even in his first match at the helm, Klopp had managed to boost Liverpool's work rate and make the football club look fresher than they had all season. And while the Reds drew that match with Tottenham Hotspur, the outcome showed that it's probably just a matter of time before Klopp turns Liverpool FC into a winning club again. When he does, the hard-working and hard-running Milner might just be the star of the proceedings.
Milner's Career so FarÂ
When Milner arrived at Liverpool in the fall, he was hailed by some as the heir apparent to Steven Gerrard. Gerrard, himself a midfielder with a great attitude and work ethic, left Liverpool at the conclusion of the 2014 2015 season. Gerrard was Liverpool's captain, their third-most capped player, a top-five goalscorer, and the football club record holder for most all-time assists. Needless to say, James has a lot to live up to if he is going to be the "new Gerrard."
Still, Milner has put together an impressive career so far. He's never been a guy to score a lot of goals, since starting his senior career in November 2002 with Leeds United, at the age of 16. He spent two seasons at Leeds, did a loan stint with Swindon Town, and got a significant amount of play time at Newcastle United between 2002 and 2008.
It wasn't until the 2009 2010 season, though, that James really had his breakout year. After having
transferred to Aston Villa in autumn 2008, Milner made quite the impression in his second season with the soccer club. He made 36 appearances, tallied 3,175 minutes of play, scored seven goals, and provided 12 assists. Aston Villa finished sixth on the Premier League table that year, and Milner was named both the PFA Young Player of the Year and a member of the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
Now, following five full seasons at Manchester City, Milner has arrived at Liverpool for what may well be the final act of his long and impressive soccer career. His career totals are 519 appearances and 60 goals (across all competitions). With Jurgen Klopp as his coach and the willingness to run further than anyone else in the Premier League, could James Milner reach his highest career peak yet with Liverpool?
James Milner Player Profile: The Hardest-Working Man in the Premier League
November 01, 2015