“From then on, after those words, his actions have been something else.”
Frank Lampard has offered insight into his working relationship with Seamus Coleman, and detailed how the Everton captain helped him steer the club away from relegation.
Lampard heaped praise on the Irish defender after Everton’s Premier League status was confirmed last week with a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over Crystal Palace at Goodison Park.
The Everton manager said that Coleman is ‘one of the best people’ he has ever met and singled him out for praise in a dressing room speech during the team’s celebrations.
Lampard has since explained why he holds his captain in such high regard and detailed the role Coleman played in helping him ensure Everton avoided the drop.
Frank Lampard: Seamus Coleman told me about Everton’s issues.
The former Chelsea manager said that Coleman met with him on his first day in the job at Goodison Park back in January, and spoke about the issues at the club.
Lampard said he could sense that Coleman, as the team’s captain and longest-serving player, felt burdened by the position the club were in.
The Ireland skipper, however, set the standards for others to follow as Everton avoided relegation to the Championship.
“On day one, Seamus came to me, sat in my office and was honest about the club,” Lampard told Everton TV.
“Things that will remain private, but he was honest about the situation and the size of the situation.
“I could see straight away the burden Seamus was carrying, in a good way, because he cares so much, and he just wanted to change it.
“From then on, after those words, his actions have been something else: speaking, training, standards every day, performances in games. I have never seen humility like it in my time in football.”
Lampard went on to say that Coleman exceeded his expectations and that he was being genuine when he declared that the Republic of Ireland captain is ‘one of the best people’ he has met.
“I heard a lot of good things about Seamus before I came to the club. He has gone there and beyond,” the Everton manager said.
“I was being honest. I have never met anyone who has his morals and standards and he is an incredible player.
“You talk about legends of football clubs and he is certainly one of those.”
"This fella is one of the best people I have ever met" – Frank Lampard on Seamus Coleman.pic.twitter.com/YInR0Y2hTw
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) May 20, 2022
Coleman at Everton.
Coleman, 33, is not only Everton’s longest-serving player, but he is now also the Premier League’s longest-serving player after West Ham United midfielder Mark Noble retired.
The Donegal-native joined the Toffees from Sligo Rovers for £60,000 in 2009 and has made 384 appearances for the club, under 10 different managers.
Coleman was named in the PFA Team of the Year in the 2013/14 season. He is under contract at Goodison Park until the end of the 2022/23 season.
Related links.
- Frank Lampard pays emotional tribute to Seamus Coleman in front of Everton squad.
- Stephen Kenny defends Seamus Coleman after Jamie Carragher criticism.
- “People don’t realise how hard a decision it actually is” – Seamus Coleman on choosing football over GAA.
