Everton may have finished the season one place behind Arsenal, but in the world of football Séamus Coleman is a King amongst defenders. In the Squawka performance score player rankings he finished at 2nd in the Barclays Premier League and 8th in the top five European leagues for the 2013/14 season! His only major defensive error was scoring an own goal against Southampton, along with his teammate Antolin Alcaraz, back in April 2014.
The 25-year old right back, who hails from Killybegs in County Donegal, originally played Gaelic football. He was spotted by Sligo Rovers and made his League of Ireland debut in October 2006. Coleman was all but written off by the then Sligo Rovers coach, Rob McDonald, but Paul Cook, who came in as manager in March 2007 was more encouraging and believed in Coleman’s ability.
In January 2009, Coleman signed for Everton; he made his debut for Everton in a Europa League game against Benfica and in his debut Premier League match against Tottenham was named Man of the Match after coming on as a substitute. His FA Cup debut was in January 2010 when he was the assist for a Tim Cahill goal. From March-August 2010 Coleman was on loan to Blackpool. After returning to Everton, in September 2010, he scored his first goal against Brentford in the Football League Cup. Coleman signed a new four-and-a-half year contract with Everton in December 2010. Exactly two years later in December 2012 he signed a new five-and-a-half year contract; however, as early as April this year there were rumours that a new contract was being drawn up.
This past season has been Coleman’s best to date for Everton – he scored six goals (not including the offending own goal). With 43 key passes, two assists and an 88% accuracy pass completion, he would certainly appear to have his eye firmly on the ball.
So what else can I tell you about Séamus Coleman? I should mention he’s been on the Republic of Ireland national team since 2007, firstly at junior level and, since October 2010, at senior level. Since 2011 he has earned 23 caps, 11 of them during 2013. In 2013/14 Coleman was named in the Sky Sports MNF Team of the Season, the PFA Team of the Year and was voted Everton’s Player’s Player of the Year as well as Everton’s Supporter’s Player of the Year.
In what looks like an imminent departure for Bacary Sagna wouldn’t it be great to have a replacement that is not only good offensively, but fantastic defensively too? According to the Everton fans’ chant Séamus Coleman plays football the Everton way – why shouldn’t we get him playing football the Arsenal way?