After almost 15 years in the Premier League, the Donegal man is setting his sights on a different challenge.
Republic of Ireland captain Seamus Coleman has revealed his post-retirement plans.
The 34-year-old has played Premier League football for almost 15 years, with next season at Everton expected to be his last.
The Toffee’s longest serving player has signed up for one more year, after Sean Dyche’s men staved off relegation on the final day of the season.
Now, with the end of the Donegal native’s playing days in sight, he has announced his plans to pursue a career in management.
Speaking to the Mail, Coleman spoke of his ambition to enter top level coaching, and most specifically, management.
“If you had asked me five years ago, what life would be like at 40, I’d have said ‘disappear back to Killybegs, playing Gaelic football; enjoying life with my family. And you’ll never hear from me again’.”
Coleman is currently Everton’s longest serving player and set to break their all-time Premier League appearances record. (Credit: Getty Images)But after spending practically the entirety of his playing career on Merseyside, a reflective Coleman has come to appreciate life across the Irish Sea;
“But me and my family are very happy over here- and I love football”.
“I don’t want to be a coach. I want to be a manager. That’s something I definitely want to do”.
“In life, you have got to have dreams and you have got to say things out loud. If it can happen, why not?”
The path of former Ireland internationals heading into management is a well-trodden one, with the likes of Damien Duff, Robbie Keane, John O’Shea and Lee Carsley to name but a few recent examples.
But few are perhaps as well placed as Coleman to excel in it, with his leadership skills on and off the pitch so patent for all to see.
Before retirement hits the 34-year-old though, he will have his eyes fixed on returning from a knee injury which saw him miss the end of Everton’s season.
Currently tied in second place for the most Premier League appearances in the blue of Everton, Coleman finds himself on the brink of history at Goodison Park, sitting just two appearances shy of Tim Howard’s 354 game record.
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