There will be an emotional farewell at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday after Seamus Coleman announced he will be bringing his stellar playing career to a close.
The Ireland international confirmed on the club’s YouTube channel that he will not be retiring at the end of the season, but will be leaving the Toffees, meaning the game against Sunderland will be his last home game in royal blue.
The news is not really a surprise, the 37-year-old has made just 11 appearances over the last two season as age
and injury finally caught up with him.
He has not featured since being forced off after ten minutes against Manchester United in November, though he has played six times for Ireland this season in their ultimately unsuccessful attempt tp qualify for this year’s World Cup.
However, he remains a respected figure in the dressing room by managers and players alike. Frank Lampard said Coleman was “one of the best men he had ever met in football” after Everton’s great escape against Crystal Palace in 2022. It is testament to his longevity that he scored Everton’s goal of the season in a vital win against Leeds in 2023 that helped the club avoid the drop once more.
Coleman took interim charge alongside Leighton Baines for an FA Cup win over Peterborough following the sacking of Sean Dyche last January and has been a regular alongside David Moyes since. The offer of a coaching role is surely on its way.
Should he take to the field on Sunday it will be his 434th Everton appearance, leaving him outright 10th on the all-time list, nudging ahead of Dixie Dean and Leon Osman.
The word legend is thrown about too easily and is understandably linked to how many honours a player has won. But in this case it is fitting, not just for Coleman’s longevity but the way he was consistently upheld Everton’s values.
At his peak he was one of the best attacking full backs in the Premier League alongside Baines on the opposite flank. His departure (from the pitch at least) represents an end of an era, as the final link from Moyes’ first spell at the club. Maybe now Everton can bring in a replacement. It has become a bit of a running joke that the Toffees’ terrible recruitment means Coleman has remained Everton’s best right-back despite his advancing years.
Everton still have plenty to play for against Sunderland so there will be no room for sentiment, but I do hope there is a chance for Coleman to one more appearance in royal blue and get the ovation he deserves.
A wonderful player and even better human, he is without doubt represents the best £60,000 Everton has ever spent.
Here are his comments in full –
“After more than 17 years at this great football club, I’ve decided this season will be my last as a player here.
“I want to thank the fans for their unbelievable support. You’ve helped me in more ways than you could imagine. I’ve always tried my best to put Everton Football Club first and you all mean the world to me. I live in the city – I see you all daily – and I’ve taken your love of the Football Club back into the dressing room to explain to the lads how much Everton means to the people.
“I also thank my managers, teammates and all the staff at Everton. They’ve seen me happy, sad, angry, emotional, but the greater cause has always been Everton Football Club. Thank you for making me a better captain and teammate. It’s an incredible football club with incredible people.
“Obviously, after such a big decision, I want to have some time over the summer to focus on what’s next for me and my family. My love for Everton is something you all know about – and I’ve got a huge love for Ireland as well.
“The Club have been unbelievable with me. They’ve offered me an opportunity to stay on at the Football Club. The manager and staff have been great, and I think with it being such an important decision over my future, I’m going to take a nice, long holiday and look back on what has been an amazing time as an Everton footballer.
“Coming over here as a 20-year-old from Sligo Rovers to a reserve team, I was just hoping to impress enough to get on the bench. To think I’ve gone on to make the most Premier League appearances for Everton and to become captain of this great football club – it was beyond my wildest dreams.
“This will always be my football club. I’m glad I’ve been here for so long that I can say I have a team that I will support for the rest of my life. My family, here and back in Ireland, are Evertonians for life. There’s something special about that, knowing in the years to come we’ll still always be supporting Everton.
“This will always be my club. Thank you for letting me be part of it for more than 17 years.”
