The Extraordinary Career of Seamus Coleman

Seamus Coleman is currently the longest-serving player in the Premier League having joined Everton way back in 2009. The Ireland international, born in Killybegs, has spent 15 years playing at the top level and is loved by football fans at home and across the Toffees fanbase on Merseyside and beyond. Having signed a new contract this summer, the 35-year-old shows no signs of slowing down.

Coleman has played more than 500 professional games and is considered an icon in the game, boasting a loyalty and longevity not often seen these days. The defender and Everton have been tipped for a return to the top ten this season and if you are keen to back the Blues, it's important to compare and assess a range of platforms, check out no deposit bonuses in India and ensure you are aware of the different odds available so that you can make a smart and informed decision.

This article will profile Coleman's remarkable rise from initially playing Gaelic football to becoming one of the most consistent performers in the Premier League.

Starting out 

Coleman followed in the footsteps of his uncles, appearing as a back for his local GAA team at the age of 16 and also winning a Buncrana Cup for Donegal county team. However, also playing football for his hometown club St Catherine's, he was spotted by League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers and would make and played 61 times before his 21st birthday. Coleman credits manager Paul Cook with helping him thrive, giving him the belief he was the best player in the league.

The young defender impressed former Celtic star Willie McStay enough for him to recommend him to Everton manager David Moyes who would have to move swiftly with the Bhoys, Birmingham and Ipswich also showing an interest in Coleman.

Joining Everton

In January 2009, Coleman joined the Toffees for just £60,000 a figure that has become synonymous with the player as it is a real bargain considering the majority of signings today are completed for tens of millions of pounds. Evertonians regularly sing about the total as they laud Coleman's performances which have dwarfed the small fee the Blues paid for his services a decade-and-a-half ago.

An injury-crisis at Goodison Park saw Coleman thrown in at the deep end, starting a Europa League group game at Benfica in which a depleted Everton were hammered 5-0. However, the experience clearly didn't have a negative impact as the wing-back was named Man of the Match after his maiden Premier League game in which he played a key role for both goals in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham.

Blackpool Promotion

In order to get up to speed with the English game, Coleman was loaned out to Championship side Blackpool who were the second tier's surprise package and were hunting a shock promotion to the Premier League having originally been tipped for relegation at the start of the season.

The defender played nine games as the Seasiders clinched a spot in the play-offs and completed the full 90 minutes as Blackpool beat Cardiff in the Wembley final to reach the Premier League.

Premier League Regular

Upon returning to Everton, Coleman grew into one of the most reliable and effective players in the Premier League, creating a formidable wing-back partnership with Leighton Baines as Everton consistently competed for Europe under Moyes and later Roberto Martinez and Ronald Koeman.

Since then, the Irishman has more Premier League appearances for the Toffees than any other player and has grown to be the club captain, being a major inspiration and leader on and off the pitch. Playing alongside the likes of Tim Cahill, Romelu Lukaku and Richarlison, Coleman has been a mainstay in the team with several managers relying on him to push the club going forward.

While recent years have seen Everton battle relegation, Coleman remains a key man and will no doubt add to his 422 games and 28 goals in the upcoming 2024/25 campaign. The defender will ready and raring to go as the Blues take on Brighton, Tottenham and Bournemouth during the opening month of the season.

Ireland International 

Coleman earned his first Ireland cap in 2011 and has been a key player since, captaining the nation permanently since 2016, the year he represented the nation at the Euros. The right-back has earned 72 caps for his country, a figure which would be greater had he not suffered a horrendous leg injury in 2017 which kept him sidelined for nearly 300 days.

His one and only international goal came in a World Cup 2018 qualifier and it proved to be the winner in a 1-0 victory over Georgia in Dublin. Coleman will be eager to help his nation reach the 2026 World Cup being held in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Sligo Return

Having committed the next year to Everton, Coleman and the Toffees returned to first club Sligo Rovers for a pre-season friendly in July. The game ended 3-3 and the defender will have no doubt been filled with immense pride as he took to the field with the skipper's armband.

Summing Up

Seamus Coleman has enjoyed a remarkable career and will be hoping to deliver a trophy during Everton's final season at Goodison Park. It remains to be seen if he will remain on Merseyside beyond this year for the move to Bramley Moore but one thing is for sure the defender has cemented his place in Irish football folklore and the Toffees history books.