James Milner is widely recognised as Leeds United's biggest academy success story this side of the Millennium. As such, it’s no surprise to see the three-time Premier League winner and former England international make an appearance in Amazon Prime’s new documentary series ‘Academy Dreams: Leeds United’.
The series follows the fortunes of last season’s crop of youngsters at Elland Road all aiming to follow in Milner’s footsteps and work their way into the Whites’ first-team. Milner completed that journey through the youth ranks at Thorp Arch to make his debut for the club back in 2002, making his Premier League debut a couple of months before his 17th birthday.
Terry Venables was at the helm at the time and with a brief loan spell at Swindon Town coming in 2003, Milner went on to play 48 times for his hometown club, scoring five goals along the way. The midfielder has since gone to make 594 appearances in the Premier League and despite being 36, he is still playing a key role for Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool.
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He collected 61 caps for England throughout his career, too, but it all started for him at Leeds and, speaking on the documentary, he credits the club with giving him the tools needed for the rest of his career.
“The role Leeds United academy had in my development is massive,” Milner says in the opening few minutes of the first episode.
“I think your baseline for skills, for what’s expected, how you behave, the fact that you’ve seen so many players go through and if you’re good enough you get a chance, that drives you on, it shows it can be done.”
Academy Dreams will be available to stream on Amazon Prime from Friday (September 23), with fans able to get intimate looks into the lives of some of the club’s brightest young stars. The likes of Joe Gelhardt, Sam Greenwood and Crysencio Summerville feature heavily, alongside Charlie Cresswell who is currently excelling on loan at Millwall.
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