James Milner reveals advice from Jurgen Klopp as he responds to question on becoming a manager
When the time comes for James Milner to hang up his boots, he’ll have the words of Jurgen Klopp ringing in his ears.
However, that day is still some way off.
Milner made English football history after he broke the Premier League‘s all-time appearance record last weekend.
His starting berth during Brighton’s 2-0 win over Brentford marked his 654th appearance in the English top flight to surpass Gareth Barry’s long-standing status as the record holder.
It’s the latest in a litany of accolades Milner has scooped up in his 24 years as a Premier League player, which include three league titles along with a spot in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year during the 2009/10 campaign.
Despite still starting games at the ripe age of 40, Milner is under no illusion that the end of his playing career is in sight.
Why Milner could hesitate before jumping in to coaching career
Unsurprisingly, many fans are curious whether the all-time great will follow the same path as several of his former teammates have and embark on a career in the dugout.
Speaking exclusively on talkSPORT Drive, Milner did not rule out becoming a manager but is also not wedded to the idea.
Either way, he won’t be in a rush to take the next step whenever the time comes.
“I’ve done my badges and things like that,” Milner said.
“Some days I think it’s a really good idea, other days you see people getting a new contract and managers getting sacked six weeks later. That doesn’t look too appealing.
“You see the stress those guys have and the amount of media they have to do and the responsibility they take on, it is a very difficult job which, again, it does appeal to me because it is so difficult.
“It is something you think, ‘I could do that, I’ll show you.’
“Jurgen Klopp always said to me that whenever you finish, it’s important you have a rest when you’ve been 100 miles an hour for as long as I have.
“So I think whenever that happens, that will be the first port of call and we’ll see where we go from there.”
Milner’s legendary list of ex-managers
Should Milner elect to take up a managerial career, he won’t be short of influential figures to draw from.
Milner has played under the likes of Fabio Capello, Roberto Mancini, Manuel Pellegrini and Roberto De Zerbi.
But no manager will have made more of an impact on Milner than Klopp, who managed the versatile Englishman on 323 occasions at Liverpool.
Under Klopp’s tutelage, Milner helped the Reds to a first ever Premier League title, an FA Cup, a League Cup, the Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
Unique trait of Hurzeler has left Milner impressed
Milner now plays under one of Klopp’s countrymen in Fabian Hurzeler.
Remarkably, Milner is eight years older than the Seagulls boss.
Despite the unusual age difference, Milner believes Hurzeler is experienced beyond his years and hailed the German’s ‘gift’ when it comes to taking on board advice.
“I think he gets the balance fantastic in terms of speaking to the senior boys, Dunky (Lewis Dunk), Welbs (Danny Welbeck) and myself, taking our thoughts on board.
“But he is a very strong character and it’s very clear he’s the manager and he’s going to make the decisions.
“But I think he’s got a great gift for listening to people around him and getting as much information as he can to help along with that.
“I think he’s done a great job in the time he’s been here. It’s not always the easiest place to be in terms of the amount of change we have in the dressing room every season.
“You look at the quality that’s left the club over the last few years and the talent they keep bringing in. It takes time to get those players up to how to play in the Premier League.
“It’s such a tough place to be a manager, I think he’s done a great job.”
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