When you think of Everton Football Club, one name stands above the rest—Seamus Coleman. His teammates call him a "leader and legend," and it's hard to argue, even if the man himself humbly disagrees.
During the making of the BBC podcast series Everton: Nothing Will Be The Same, Coleman admitted he couldn't be considered a club legend because he hadn't won a trophy. But his immense worth to the Toffees is undeniable—he's a big reason they're still a Premier League side today.
In the 2022-23 season, we saw firsthand just what this captain did to ensure survival when Everton were fighting against the tide. Frank Lampard had been sacked, Sean Dyche brought in, a first PSR charge hit, and the board stopped attending games. Most had written Everton off—but not Coleman.
Even after leaving the pitch on a stretcher against Leicester with just four games left, he continued to lead. Living in the city, fans would stop him, genuinely worried about their club's future. He took those messages and stories straight to the dressing room, insisting to his teammates they couldn't be the ones to relegate Everton—his Everton.
On the final day against Bournemouth at Goodison Park, there he was in the dugout, leg in a brace, doing everything he could to help.
Coleman has dragged the Toffees over the line more than once, becoming famed for his leadership. But let's not forget his immense talent. He could have left for a club chasing league titles, but loyalty meant more to him.
In recent history, no player has fit a club better. That bargain "60 grand" signing turned out to be the best piece of business in Everton's modern era—Coleman holds the club record for most Premier League appearances with 372.
Such is his love for the club that, alongside Leighton Baines, he went to David Moyes' house in January 2025 to personally ask him to return as manager.
Now offered a spot on the coaching staff, Coleman remains undecided. There's no doubt he'd transfer his leadership to the dugout seamlessly. But he could also choose to return home to Ireland.
As the Goodison Park era closed last season, one thing is certain: Seamus Coleman's legacy is etched into the very fabric of Everton Football Club.