Largely consigned to the margins of the main storyline on what was a remarkable night for Everton at Old Trafford last November, the sight of Séamus Coleman trudging off the pitch after just 10 minutes was anything but a trivial footnote for Ireland fans.
That Monday night fixture marked Coleman’s first Premier League start in six months. But it has since come to signpost the last time he played competitive football.
Before that game, his only league involvement with the Toffees was as a sub in garbage time against both Wolves and Crystal Palace.
The United match came just over a week after Ireland’s famous victory in Hungary. But after the high of Budapest, came the low of Manchester.
It was a bizarre night. Everton lost their captain to injury after only ten minutes, then had Idrissa Gueye sent off for striking his team-mate Michael Keane moments later but somehow the visitors still managed to win the fixture, 1-0.
Coleman has not played since. And though he has been included among the Everton subs again recently, with the season entering its final phase he has played just 12 Premier League minutes.
He also started two EFL Cup games earlier in the campaign – against Mansfield Town in August and Wolves in September. But his game-time has been limited at club level for several years now.
Séamus Coleman’s game-time has been limited for Everton recently. Photograph: Jan Kruger/Getty
Before the United game in November, his most recent Premier League start had been Everton’s Goodison Park farewell match against Southampton last May – though he was forced off injured in that game as well, leaving the pitch after just 18 minutes. That marked his fifth and final Premier League appearance in the 2024-25 season.
The latter stage of the 37-year-old’s career has been hampered by injury – including a knee problem in May 2023 that kept him out for almost seven months.
But the twilight of his Ireland career might be about to afford him the prize of a World Cup finals appearance this summer. Having won 77 caps for Ireland, a landmark achievement might be just up ahead.
“What is my biggest motivation? I think I just want to be someone who is remembered as a good team-mate, someone that works hard every single day,” said Coleman in Prague on Wednesday.
“I don’t want anyone to ever have an opportunity to say that he’s not giving his all. Listen, the motivation is putting on that green shirt for Ireland, it’s incredible, it’s something we dreamed of as a kid and underneath it all it’s representing your people, my family, my mum, my dad, my brothers, my wife, my kids, things like that are my motivation, always have been.
“I’m very proud to put on the green shirt for Ireland and never take it for granted.”
He has played that way since making his debut against Wales in 2011.
But his Ireland career dangled over the precipice not so long ago. Heimir Hallgrímsson’s decision to omit Coleman from his initial squads suggested the Donegal man was destined to slip off the international stage quietly rather than go out with a bang.
Séamus Coleman in press conference. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
But some lacklustre Ireland displays jimmied the window open again for Coleman and he was recalled to the squad for the qualifiers against Portugal and Armenia.
Such was his immediate impact in the group that Coleman was fast-tracked from a squad recall to a starting place against Portugal in October, marking his 37th birthday with an assured display. He has started every Ireland game since.
The Irish Times gave him an eight out of 10 for his performance against Portugal in Dublin last November, calling him “heroic” and saying he remained “the team’s spiritual leader”.
Then, just eight days after featuring in one of the most famous nights of Irish football in Budapest last November, Coleman was handed his first Premier League start of the season for Everton’s trip to play Man United at Old Trafford. It was almost too perfect.
And so it proved as the Killybegs man was forced off with a hamstring injury inside the opening quarter of an hour. He hasn’t played since.
But Coleman has stuffed so much credit in the bank at this stage that nobody would be surprised if he starts for Ireland in Prague on Thursday. In fact, more folk would be surprised if he was left out of the team rather than included at right back.
Universally admired by Ireland fans, it is hard to recall a time Coleman didn’t deliver a performance for his country. Supporters identify with him, Ireland’s Mr Dependable.
So when it was put to Coleman on Wednesday that his lack of game-time might be a concern, without missing a beat he whipped back: “I didn’t have many minutes before the last games.”
Still, Coleman is now in the realm of his last games – whether the curtain comes down on his international career over the coming days or months, it seem results will be the determining factor on that front.
Coming off the pitch in Budapest last November, with Ireland trailing 2-1, that could have been the end. But he never believed it was going to pan out that way.
“I fully believed we could get back into the game and create something,” recalls Coleman.
“No, it never crossed my mind. I fully believed that the lads would get the job done, whether that was naive of me or not, but it proved not to be.
“But ultimately it has to count for something as well. It was great at the time and memories that people will keep forever, but it has to count for something, and that is starting [on Thursday].”
Thousands of Ireland fans have travelled to Prague for this playoff – most without tickets. Coleman wants to repay their belief.
“I said it before the results last time, that this football team can lift the nation and we were proved right with that.
“We’re so grateful for their support, we’re so grateful that they’re getting here however they can, many flights, trains, whatever way they can to be part of it.
“As long as our supporters know that we don’t take that for granted and we want to give them another good night.”
Séamus Coleman has already given Ireland fans a few over the years.