James Milner has officially retired from professional football with a new benchmark for endurance, clocking an impressive 3 hours, 9 minutes, and 4 seconds in the New York City Marathon. The former Manchester City, Liverpool, and Brighton midfielder averaged a blistering 7 minutes and 13 seconds per mile, a pace that defies expectations for a 40-year-old whose physique is often compared to a wrestler rather than a distance runner. Milner’s performance marks a significant leap in the sport’s history, demonstrating that elite tactical footballers possess a level of aerobic capacity that extends far beyond the 90-minute match duration.
The 40-year-old’s 3:09:04 in New York shatters the previous record held by Muzzy Izzet.
This achievement shatters the previous record for the fastest marathon time by a professional footballer, which was held by Muzzy Izzet. The former Leicester City playmaker had previously led the pack with a time of 3 hours, 22 minutes, and 36 seconds at the 2011 London Marathon. By shaving nearly 13 minutes off the previous best, Milner has redefined the upper limits of athletic versatility in the game. The Guardian’s “The Knowledge” column, which first tracked these feats in 2012, now updates its records to reflect Milner’s dominance in the long-distance category.
Despite his stellar performance, Milner believes he could have achieved a sub-3:00 hour marathon had his late-career injuries not hindered his training. “A few years ago, I feel like I could have definitely done sub-3:00,” he admitted, citing physical setbacks as the primary barrier to an even faster time. His accomplishment stands in stark contrast to the typical profile of a top-flight midfielder, proving that consistent, high-intensity match fitness can translate into world-class marathon performance. As the Premier League’s record appearance maker, Milner’s transition from pitch to pavement serves as a testament to his lifelong dedication to physical conditioning.
Source: The Guardian Sport
