Milner sets PL record - The players to have played most seasons in one of the top 5 leagues

Brighton started the Premier League season in electric fashion as they won 3-0 away at Everton on Saturday. Young stars and new signings shone, but holding it all together, the glue in midfield, was none other than 38-year-old James Milner. Born in 1986, the veteran actually made his Premier League debut in 2002 for Leeds before his Seagulls team-mates Yankuba Minteh (born in 2004) and Jack Hinshelwood (born in 2005) were born. Perhaps even more remarkably, new manager Fabian Hürzeler (who is seven years Milner's junior) was only nine years old when Milner first kicked a ball in the English top-flight.

The superb longevity Milner has shown saw him break an impressive record by starting at Goodison Park. He has now played in 23 separate Premier League seasons, which is the most of any player since the league's re-format in 1992. He overtook former Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs who had played in 22 different campaigns. But where does the Englishmen rank when we look at the players to have played the most seasons in one of the top 5 leagues? Two legends of the game just eclipse him.

The players to have played the most seasons in one of the top five leagues 

Leading the way is Roma legend Francesco Totti. The Italian played in 25 separate seasons in Serie A - all of those for the 'I Giallorossi' (red and yellows). He made his debut in the Italian top-flight back in 1993 before hanging up his boots in 2017. In second place is another Italian icon in goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, who played 24 seasons in Serie A for both Parma and Juventus. Milner takes third, having represented Leeds, Newcastle, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Liverpool and Brighton, totalling 23 seasons in the Premier League. In fourth, as touched upon is Giggs with 22 seasons - all of which were for Man United. Completing the top five is Gareth Barry, who holds the record for the most Premier League appearances, and played 21 seasons in the English top-flight.

As many as six players have played 20 seasons in one of the top five leagues since 1992/93. From the Premier League, there is midfielder Frank Lampard and centre-half Rio Ferdinand. From the Bundesliga, there is forward Claudio Pizarro. From Serie A, striker Fabio Quagliarella, and from La Liga, midfielder Joaquin and forward Raúl Garcia. A further 11 players have played 19 seasons in one of the top five leagues.

For Milner, he could tumble an even more impressive Premier League record this campaign. His appearance on Saturday was his 636th Premier League game, leaving him second in the all-time rankings. He is currently 18 games short of Barry's 653 appearances record, meaning he would need to play 18 league games this campaign to go level, and 19 to eclipse his former team-mate and stand out as the player to have played the most games in Premier League history.