Seamus Coleman shares ambition to become a manager

Seamus Coleman says he wants to become a football manager.

Ireland captain Seamus Coleman has told the Mail that he wants to become a football manager once he retires from the game.

The Everton right-back was recently awarded with a one-year contract extension for next season but is likely to hang up his boots after that.

Donegal native Coleman joined Everton in 2009 from Sligo Rovers and has become a legend on Merseyside for his service to the club ever since.

Now with the end of his career in sight he has realised that it would be difficult for him and his family to leave Liverpool, given the strong connection they have built with the community.

Seamus Coleman shares manager dream.

He said: “If you had asked me five years ago, what life would be like at 40, I’d have said ‘disappear back to Killybegs, playing Gaelic football; enjoying life with my family. And you’ll never hear from me again’.”

Coleman’s perspective has changed in the meantime, however. The 34-year-old now thinks he wants to stay in football and potentially stay on Merseyside.

“But me and my family are very happy over here,” he explained, “and I love football”.

“I don’t want to be a coach. I want to be a manager. That’s something I definitely want to do”.

“In life, you have got to have dreams and you have got to say things out loud. If it can happen, why not?”

Irish coaches and managers.

When it comes to former Ireland internationals – and indeed Ireland legends – stepping into management, he can look at the likes of Robbie Keane, Damien Duff and Roy Keane for lessons.

Robbie Keane, who spent time coaching Ireland, Middlesbrough and Leeds, has just taken his first steps into the managerial game by joining Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Duff is currently manager of Shelbourne in the League of Ireland after previously contributing as a coach to Ireland and Celtic.

While, Roy Keane, although currently not involved in football coaching, had mixed fortunes with Sunderland, Ipswich and the Irish national team.

There is also former Evertonian Lee Carsley. He is the current England under-21s boss and is floated as a potential Stephen Kenny replacement because he won 40 caps for the Boys in Green between 1997 and 2008.