Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson was again gushing with praise for legendary defender Seamus Coleman
18:04, 15 Nov 2025
Seamus Coleman(Image: INPHO/Ryan Byrne)
As far as tributes to Seamus Coleman go, and there have been many, this is surely unique.
But Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrímsson often delivers a neat turn of phrase when it comes to describing others in his second language. The Icelander is a huge fan of the Everton veteran and in the wake of the Portugal win described him as “phenomenal”, while he also lamented the fact that injury robbed him of the 37-year-old’s services for the best part of a year.
Now he has praised Coleman’s influence off the pitch with a delightful analogy. “I’ve been unlucky,” said Hallgrímsson, “not to have him included in my squads before the last camp.
“But I think in general, in life, and all people, and it applies to football, there’s two kinds of people – people that are vacuums and people that are batteries, you know, that will give energy, will give joy, will give enthusiasm. And he is a really, really, really big battery for this group in so many ways.
“So the more the people of Ireland will produce more [players like] Seamus in the future, the better it will be for the football team. But that’s probably the biggest compliment I can give to anyone in life – he is the biggest battery I have worked with in a football team.
“Really he is a man that loves his country and will do anything, not only to shine himself, but to get the best out of everyone around him.” Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher joined in with his own tribute to Coleman, saying: “It’s pretty clear to see his leadership on the pitch.
“He’s one that has the ability to tell others where to go and what to do and also focus on his own performance. pretty good as well. But yes, like the boss said, I think he’s a selfless player. He wants everyone else to do well. He gives 110 percent, he drives the standards in the team, he’s an inspiration obviously.
“A lot of us in the squad look to him, he’s a lad who’s been there and done it, he’s played in so many important games already for his country. So we’ll definitely lean on his experience today and tomorrow really.
“He’s played in obviously a major tournament for Ireland. He’s massive for us and we don’t take him for granted.”
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