.jpg) Coleman playing for theRepublic of Ireland in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Séamus Coleman[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1988-10-11)11 October 1988 (age 37)[2][3] | ||
| Place of birth | Killybegs, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[4] | ||
| Position | Right-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Everton | ||
| Number | 23 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| St Catherine's | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2006–2009 | Sligo Rovers | 56 | (1) |
| 2009– | Everton | 372 | (22) |
| 2010 | →Blackpool (loan) | 9 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2007–2010 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 13 | (1) |
| 2011– | Republic of Ireland | 77 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2025 | Everton (interim) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:12, 24 November 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 16:19, 16 November 2025 (UTC) | |||
Séamus Coleman (/ˈʃeɪməsˈkoʊlmən/SHAY-məsKOHL-mən; born 11 October 1988) is an Irish professionalfootballer who plays as aright-back for andcaptains bothPremier League clubEverton and theRepublic of Ireland national team.
Originally aGaelic footballer, Coleman started his association football career withSt Catherine's in Killybegs. He joinedLeague of Ireland sideSligo Rovers in 2006 after impressing in afriendly against them. He then made the move to England to sign for Everton in January 2009 for a £60,000 fee. In 2010, he spent half a season on loan withBlackpool, helping them win promotion via theChampionship play-offs, before returning to Everton where he has made over 400 appearances.
Coleman has been a senior international for the Republic of Ireland since 2011, acquiring over 70 caps. He won the2011 Nations Cup and was awarded theFAI Under-21 International Player of the Year in both 2009 and 2010. He was selected for the Ireland squad atUEFA Euro 2016,captaining Ireland against bothItaly andFrance. He was named the new Ireland captain in September 2016 followingRobbie Keane's international retirement.
Coleman was raised inKillybegs,[5] a fishing port inCounty Donegal, Ireland.[2] Two of his uncles playedGaelic football.[6] His maternal aunt Anne (née Carr) came from Crove, atownland between Glengesh and Meenaneary,[7] and is the mother ofDessie Farrell.[6]
Coleman has two brothers: Francis and Stephen (known as Stevie). His parents are Henry and Máire Coleman. Henry is fromTinahely inCounty Wicklow,[8] while Máire (née Carr) is from thetownland of Crove (Irish:Cróibh) nearCarrick, a village to the west of Killybegs.[9] He attended St Catherine's Vocational School in Killybegs for hissecondary education.[10] He did hisLeaving Certificate in 2006.[9]
Coleman himself initially played Gaelic football, and, aged 16, played as aback for his localGAA club,Na Cealla Beaga.[11][12] He also played for theDonegal county team at under-16 level, winning a Buncrana Cup in 2004.[13][14]
Coleman was spotted bySligo Rovers when he lined up against them in a friendly for his hometown club,St Catherine's.[15] He made hisLeague of Ireland debut againstDerry City at theBrandywell in October 2006 as a substitute forAdam Hughes.[16]
Sligo Rovers coachRob McDonald did not rate Coleman very highly as a player, telling him that he should joinLeague of Ireland First Division clubFinn Harps.[17] McDonald departed Sligo Rovers in March 2007,[18] and was replaced byPaul Cook, of whom Coleman later said: "He made me feel like I was the best player in the League. It just makes such a difference when you have a manager who believes in you".[17]
Coleman scored his only goal for Sligo againstBray Wanderers on 17 May 2008, concluding a 3–0 win.[19]
Following a recommendation byWillie McStay to former teammate andEverton managerDavid Moyes, Coleman was signed by theMerseyside club for £60,000[20] in January 2009, ahead of other interest fromIpswich Town,Birmingham City andCeltic.[21] Before playing a game for Everton, Coleman had to undergo surgery on a career-threatening infected blister.[22] He made his debut on 22 October 2009 in theEuropa League group stage in a 5–0 loss toBenfica at theEstádio da Luz, being beaten to the ball byJavier Saviola for the first goal.[23] Three days later in hisGoodison Park debut, aPremier League match againstTottenham Hotspur, Coleman was namedMan of the Match after coming on as a first-half substitute for the injuredJoseph Yobo, and played an instrumental part for both of Everton's goals in a 2–2 draw.[24] He made hisFA Cup debut againstCarlisle United in the third round on 2 January 2010, replacingTony Hibbert in the 80th minute and creating a goal forTim Cahill two minutes later, in a 3–1 home win.[25]
On 19 March 2010, Coleman joinedChampionship clubBlackpool on loan, initially for one month as a replacement for the injuredNeal Eardley.[26] He made his debut the next day, in a 2–2 draw at home toCrystal Palace.[27] He scored his first goal for theTangerines in a 4–2 win atScunthorpe United on 2 April.[28] Later that month, Coleman's loan was extended until the end of the season,[29] while on 19 May he agreed a new four-year contract with Everton.[30] He played in Blackpool'splay–off final atWembley Stadium, which they won 3–2 againstCardiff City.[31]
Coleman returned to Everton for the following season, breaking into the first team on the right of midfield. He scored his first goal for Everton againstBrentford in theLeague Cup third round on 21 September 2010. He opened the scoring atGriffin Park in the sixth minute, but also gave away apenalty with a foul onMyles Weston, whichJán Mucha saved fromCharlie MacDonald, although Brentford eventually won in apenalty shoot-out after a 1–1 draw.[32] He scored his first Premier League goal against his former team Blackpool on 6 November to secure a 2–2 draw atBloomfield Road,[33] signed a new four-and-a-half-year deal two months later,[34] and was nominated for the 2011PFA Young Player of the Year Award.[35] He finished the season having scored four league goals, though was sent off in the final game of the season, a 1–0 win againstChelsea.[36]
On 31 December 2012, Coleman signed a new five-and-a-half-year contract with Everton.[37]
The2013–14 season proved to be Coleman's best to date as he scored six league goals, more than his previous seasons at the club combined.[38][39] In April, he was named in thePFA Team of the Year.[40] He was also named Everton's Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year.[41] ManagerRoberto Martínez hailed Coleman as one of the best full-backs in world football as he was part of a defence which conceded just 39 goals to help Everton finish fifth with a club record of 72 Premier League points.[41][42] He created 45 chances during the season, the third highest amongst Everton players and had the second highest pass completion at 88%.[43]
On 26 June 2014, Coleman signed a new five-year contract with Everton.[44] He scored his first ever goal inEuropean football for Everton on 18 September 2014, netting their second in a 4–1 win overWolfsburg in the first match of theirEuropa League campaign.[45] On 19 February 2015, he was again on target in Europe, in a 5–1 win overBSC Young Boys in the last 32.[46] On 22 March, Coleman scored the first goal in an eventual 3–1 away success againstQueens Park Rangers withToffees boss Roberto Martínez praising the full-back for his performance, describing him as "magnificent in his defensive duties" and labelling his opener as "a striker's goal".[47]
Coleman scored his only goal of the2015–16 season in a 3–0 away victory againstStoke City on 6 February 2016.[48]
On 17 September, he opened his2016–17 goalscoring account in a 3–1 home win againstMiddlesbrough with a great solo run and finish on his weaker foot.[49] He scored his second goal of the season on 19 November with an 89th-minute header to win in a 2–1 home win againstSwansea City.[50]
Coleman's first goal of 2017 came on 21 January as he secured all three points with an 87th-minute winner in a 1–0 triumph over Crystal Palace atSelhurst Park.[51]
Coleman suffered a fractured tibia and fibula in his right leg following a dangerous challenge fromNeil Taylor whilst on international duty with Ireland in March 2017 and was unlikely to return to action until 2018.[52] It was announced a few days after his injury thatFIFA would pay his basic salary for the duration of his rehabilitation.[53] During his recovery, Coleman signed a new five-year contract which would keep him at the club until the summer of 2022.[54]
He made his Everton return on 31 January 2018, in a 2–1 win overLeicester City.[55]
Coleman became Everton club captain in August 2019, followingPhil Jagielka's departure after a 12-year tenure.[56] On 15 December that year, he made his 300th Everton appearance in a 1–1 draw at Manchester United.[57]
On 28 July 2021, Coleman signed a contract extension to keep him at Everton until the end of June 2023.[58] He played his 400th game for the club on 13 February 2023, a 2–0 defeat at Liverpool; six days later he scored the only goal at home toLeeds United.[59] Despite suffering a serious injury in a clash withBoubakary Soumare in a 2–2 draw atLeicester towards the end of the 2022–23 season, on 29 June 2023 Everton extended Coleman's contract by one year, until the end of June 2024.[60][61] He made his first appearance of the 2023–24 season on 9 December 2023, starting in Everton's 3–0 home win overNewcastle United.[62]
On 17 May 2024, the club announced he had been offered a one-year contract.[63] Coleman signed the contract, extending his time at Everton to the end of June 2025.[64]
On 9 January 2025, following the sacking of managerSean Dyche, Coleman &Leighton Baines were made joint interim managers of the team ahead of that night'sFA Cup tie at home toPeterborough United.[65]
On 18 May 2025, Coleman captained Everton in their final game atGoodison Park. However, he was forced off with a knock in the 18th minute. He was given a standing ovation by the crowd as he left the pitch.[66]
On 27 June 2025, Everton announced he had signed a new one-year deal.[67]
He is anIreland under-21 and under-23 international, having made his debut for the former againstSweden in 2007.[68] On 10 August 2010, Coleman scored his first international goal in a 5–0 win againstEstonia.[69] In the same month he won the 2009 FAI Under 21 Player of the Year Award.[70] He retained the award in 2010.[71] He captained Ireland in a 1–0 defeat againstTurkey in November 2010.[72]
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Coleman received his first call-up to thesenior squad in October 2010,[73] and made his full international debut in the Republic of Ireland's inauguralNations Cup match againstWales on 8 February 2011, which Ireland won 3–0.[74] The Republic won the tournament after defeatingNorthern Ireland andScotland in their other games.[75]
On 29 May 2013, Coleman was named Man of the Match for his performance againstEngland atWembley Stadium. He crossed the ball forShane Long's opening goal of the game, a header pastJoe Hart.[76][77]Coleman captained Ireland for the first time in a2014 World Cup qualifier againstGermany on 11 October 2013, his 25th birthday, which Ireland lost 3–0 inCologne.[78]
On 31 May 2016, Coleman was selected inMartin O'Neill's 23-man squad forEuro 2016.[79] At the tournament, he captained Ireland in their final group game victory over Italy. The 1–0 win ensured that the team advanced past the group stages at aUEFA European Championship for the first time.[80] He was also captain for Ireland's Round of 16 match against France inLyon where the hosts prevailed 2–1 winners.[81]
Coleman was named the permanent Ireland captain in September 2016 following the international retirement of Robbie Keane.[82] The following month, he scored his first senior international goal for Ireland in a 1–0 win overGeorgia at theAviva Stadium in a2018 World Cup qualifier.[83]
On 24 March 2017, Coleman suffered a broken leg in the 69th minute of a goalless draw in a World Cup qualifier againstWales following a dangerous tackle byNeil Taylor for which the Welshman was given a straight red card.[84][85] Coleman received treatment on the pitch and was given oxygen as he was comforted by teammate Shane Long before being carried off on a stretcher.[86][87] He was brought directly toDublin'sSt. Vincent's Hospital where he underwent surgery on a fracturedtibia andfibula of his right leg.[86] Ireland manager Martin O'Neill stated that Coleman's injury was a "huge blow" to both Ireland and Everton but backed the player to return to his "brilliant" best.[88][89] Taylor's challenge was widely condemned across the football world with theAston Villa defender himself said to be "devastated" about causing a serious injury.[90][91][92][93] Wales managerChris Coleman later revealed that Taylor went into the Ireland team's changing room to apologise for the incident.[94] Many fellow footballers, sports personalities and celebrities took toTwitter to send messages of support to Coleman includingWayne Rooney,Shay Given,Héctor Bellerín,Paul McGrath,Tony Bellew andNiall Horan.[84][95][96] On 26 March, O'Neill confirmed the surgery on the right-back's fractured leg had been a success.[97]
Coleman's first call-up since the injury came for the squad to faceTurkey on 23 March 2018.[55]
After Everton managerSean Dyche left the club in early January 2025, Coleman became the club's first-team interim manager, alongsideLeighton Baines. Baines and Coleman's only game in charge was a 2–0 win toPeterborough United in theFA Cup.[98]
In his prime years, Coleman was a quick and very hard-working full-back with immense stamina and was renowned for his eagerness to get forward on attacking runs which established his goalscoring prowess. He had been deployed as a winger and wide midfielder before making the right-back spot his own.[99][100] Coleman showed a proficiency for having great composure when in possession of the ball and his former Everton teammateAshley Williams hailed him as one of the best players he had ever played with.[99][101]
Despite being very quiet by nature, Coleman has always shown great leadership qualities which propelled him to the role of captain of the Irish national team.[102] He led the Ireland team out for their final two matches at Euro 2016, earning much praise from teammates, fans and media alike.[102][103][104] He took on the role of Ireland captain on a permanent basis in September 2016.[82] In March 2018, it was suggested byESPN FC journalist Luke O'Farrell that Coleman should also be the next club captain at Everton, highlighting that the full-back "leads by example and, more importantly, demands more from his teammates. Coleman has never been afraid to let another player know when something is not working or needs improvement. [...] Coleman sets the mark for the rest of the team to follow".[105] O'Farrell's wish came to fruition in August 2019 when Coleman became the new Everton captain following the departure of Phil Jagielka.[56]
Coleman supports theDonegal county football team.[106][107] He also still follows his local GAA team,Na Cealla Beaga,[11] and attended the final of the2013 Donegal Senior Football Championship when they lost toGleann tSuilí.[108]
I'd be more nervous watching the [Gaelic football] lads than I would be watching my own games… When it's Killybegs playing, it means a bit more. It's something I was a big part of growing up, I played with all them lads.[109]
In an Evertonmatchday programme ahead of a Premier League win overWolverhampton Wanderers, Coleman mentionedMichael Murphy as his favourite sportsperson outside association football, both for his manner on the field of play and his personality off it.[110]
In June 2015, he married his childhood sweetheart Rachel Cunningham in St. Mary of the Visitation Church in Killybegs.[111] They have two daughters, born in 2016[112] and 2018,[113] and a son who was born in 2021.[114]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup[a] | League Cup[b] | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sligo Rovers | 2006[115] | League of Ireland Premier Division | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | |
| 2007[115][116] | League of Ireland Premier Division | 26 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 0 | ||
| 2008[115][117] | League of Ireland Premier Division | 26 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 28 | 1 | ||
| Total | 56 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 1 | ||
| Everton | 2009–10[118] | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3[c] | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2010–11[119] | Premier League | 34 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 40 | 6 | ||
| 2011–12[120] | Premier League | 18 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13[121] | Premier League | 26 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 31 | 1 | ||
| 2013–14[122] | Premier League | 36 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 41 | 7 | ||
| 2014–15[123] | Premier League | 35 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5[c] | 2 | 42 | 5 | |
| 2015–16[124] | Premier League | 28 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2016–17[125] | Premier League | 26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 28 | 4 | ||
| 2017–18[126] | Premier League | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2018–19[127] | Premier League | 29 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 30 | 2 | ||
| 2019–20[128] | Premier League | 27 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 30 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21[129] | Premier League | 25 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2021–22[130] | Premier League | 30 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 34 | 1 | ||
| 2022–23[131] | Premier League | 23 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 25 | 1 | ||
| 2023–24[132] | Premier League | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2024–25[133] | Premier League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2025–26 | Premier League | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | – | 5 | 0 | ||
| Total | 372 | 22 | 33 | 3 | 20 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 433 | 28 | ||
| Blackpool (loan) | 2009–10[118] | Championship | 9 | 1 | — | — | 3[d] | 0 | 12 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 437 | 24 | 37 | 3 | 21 | 1 | 11 | 2 | 506 | 30 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | 2011 | 4 | 0 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2025 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 77 | 1 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 October 2016 | Aviva Stadium,Dublin, Ireland | 40 |  Georgia | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | [135] |
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||
| Everton (player-joint interim manager) | 9 January 2025 | 11 January 2025 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 |
| Total | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 100.00 | ||
Blackpool
Republic of Ireland
Individual
Outside of that world, he was growing up on Cummins Hill, a densely populated housing estate… From his primary school days at Niall Mór National School, Coleman was sweeping up Gaelic Football trophies like they were going out of fashion… In 2006, Coleman was sitting his Leaving Cert…
In 2004, Coleman was a member of the Donegal Under 16 team that won the Buncrana Cup.
Seamus Coleman very politely and willingly stops to make Sean Thomas McMonagle, Mecheala and Nicole Cronin's day!
The GAA slogan says that you can't beat being there. And you really can't… There's even a cameo role later on from Seamus Coleman!
