BREAKING:Seamus Coleman’s challenging decision regarding his contract extension with Everton…Read more
“Everton Veteran Seamus Coleman Faces Contract Decision Dilemma: Club Captain Weighs Loyalty and Future Impact”
Club captain Seamus Coleman feels a responsibility to support Everton as long as he can and acknowledges he will know when it’s time to retire as he contemplates a new one-year contract. Alongside fellow veteran Ashley Young, 38, Coleman has received an offer for an additional 12 months as they approach the final season at Goodison Park. The 35-year-old, who joined the Blues in January 2009 from Sligo Rovers for £60,000, has deferred decisions about his future until after Sunday’s final Premier League game against Arsenal.
The Republic of Ireland international stated, “The club has mentioned they’ve made an offer, but I haven’t seriously considered it yet. The focus has always been on the games, and it was important to finish these last few matches first.”
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“Personally, I had some injuries and niggles, and I wanted to get through these last few games by focusing solely on them. Now it’s time to sit down and think about the future, but I make no secret that I love this football club. I feel a duty to help the club as long as I can, so we’ll see what the next few weeks bring.”
This season, Coleman broke his former teammate Tim Howard’s club record for Premier League appearances and now stands at 364, surpassing the retired USA goalkeeper by 10. With 422 appearances in all competitions for Everton, he is just 12 matches shy of surpassing Dixie Dean and moving into the club’s top 10 appearance makers.
He said, “I’m enjoying it because I love the football club, and I’ve always said I’ll know when it’s time if wingers are regularly getting past me. I still feel competitive, and I’m not getting beaten easily in training or games.
“While I know I won’t be playing every game or running up and down the wing as I used to, I understand my value in the dressing room. Living in the city, I know what this club means, and I can communicate that to the players when times are tough.
“I idolize the football club, so it was important to get through these games before deciding what’s next.”
Coleman’s 12 Premier League games this season match his lowest total at Everton in 2017/18, when he was recovering from a double leg break. However, he recognizes he can positively impact his teammates whether or not he’s on the pitch. “Of course, every footballer wants to be out on the field,” he said.
“It’s been difficult for me, but it’s also been challenging for all Evertonians. I have a duty to set aside my personal issues for the greater good of the team, and I can always find ways to influence the group or the camp’s mood, whether I’m playing or not.
“That’s been my role for much of the season since I haven’t played as many games as I would have liked, partly due to the serious injury I suffered against Leicester. Whether you’re on the field or not, the most important thing is the club and getting results, and I contribute to that as much as possible.”
Coleman has experienced challenging for honors with Everton in his younger days, but securing their place in the division this season, despite two separate points deductions, has been one of his proudest moments in over 15 years at Goodison Park. He said, “We achieved what we needed to as players, fans, a football club, and a management team. Others can debate the unprecedented points deductions. I’m extremely proud of the group’s response, the players, the club, and the fans.
“Now that it’s over, you can forget how tough that period was, especially with our winless run of games.”
“I think we did make progress. Without the points deductions, where would we be? (12th, above Bournemouth on goal difference). That’s a significant improvement over the past two seasons, where we struggled until the very end. So, there’s definitely been progress.
“The manager deserves a lot of credit for that. His style, principles, and old-school mentality have been very effective. I mentioned last week that he’s brought a bit of Everton’s spirit back.
“It’s not entirely ‘his way or the highway,’ but he’s a positive disciplinarian, which is something we’ve needed. The improvements are clear, and while the manager deserves recognition, so do the players for handling the pressure this season.”
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