Five moments that made Seamus Coleman an Everton Icon

17 years ago, Everton signed a scrawny young full-back from League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers for £60,000.

Since pulling on the royal blue jersey, the Killybegs defender has played 434 times for the Toffees, netted 28 goals and broken Everton’sa all-time Premier League appearance record.

As Coleman’s time at the Blues has now officially come to an end following his cameo at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium on Sunday, we’re looking back on some of the moments that sealed his place in Everton history.

Here is five moments that made Seamus Coleman an Everton icon.

Coleman announces himself at the Grand Old Lady

Seamus Coleman calls time on his Everton career, 17 years on from this POTM performance on his league debut for the Toffees 💙🥺 pic.twitter.com/zywJVmRV8e

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 15, 2026

Although Coleman made his Everton bow at left-back in a 5-0 UEFA Europa League loss to SL Benfica in October 2009, the first time Goodison Park saw the best of their now famous number 23, he was actually wearing number 31. Coleman replaced the injured Joseph Yobo just 15 minutes into a 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur on 6th December 2009. Yet to really make an impression in royal blue, Coleman played with his signature pace and power, assisting Louis Saha to help Everton snatch a point from 2-0 down.

Australian loanee Lucas Neill was wearing number 23… in case you were wondering.

Coleman or Cafu?

"I thought I was watching Cafu for a moment!" 🪄

Memories of Seamus Coleman's skills in a 3-0 win against Arsenal on this day in 2014! 💙 pic.twitter.com/6lBVqwa5Ow

— Everton (@Everton) April 6, 2026

By 2014, Coleman had nailed down his place as Everton’s first choice right-back and was attracting interest from across Europe under the leadership of then manager Roberto Martinez. The Blues were chasing a spot in the UEFA Champions League and faced rivals Arsenal at Goodison Park in a key battle in the race for European football.

Everton ran out 3-0 winners on the day, but not before a signature Seamus Coleman moment. In the second-half of the match, the Irishman did his best seal impression, bobbing the ball up on his head before performing a number of ‘keepie-uppies’ around his opponents. Classic Coleman.

A goal from nowhere

©aptain ©lutch. pic.twitter.com/BVlcT4PTTY

— Everton (@Everton) February 18, 2023

Fast forward to 2023, Everton were in the toughest of spots. With new manager Sean Dyche clinching a 1-0 win over Arsenal in his first match in charge, a win over fellow strugglers Leeds United would go a long way to securing Premier League safety.

With the match stuck at 0-0 and both sides struggling to put the ball over the white line, Everton were desperate for a goal. Alex Iwobi played a hopeful ball over the last defender that looked destined to fizzle out into the Gwladys Street crowd, until Seamus Coleman swung his right foot at the ball, catching Leeds United goalkeeper Islan Meslier in no man’s land to score from an almost impossible angle, and seal an important win in the process. A miraculous moment that pushed the Toffees toward safety.

Stretchered off

LEGEND. ✊

Seamus leaves the pitch on a stretcher away to Leicester City back in 2023, but drives on the travelling Toffees as he does! pic.twitter.com/zFu6YwXFYs

— Everton (@Everton) May 21, 2026

Following his physics defying strike against Leeds, the Blues travelled to the King Power Stadium to take on another relegation rival in Leicester City.

Everton started well, taking the lead through a Dominic Calvert-Lewin penalty before Caglar Soyuncu and Jamie Vardy struck back for the Foxes.

Soyuncu clashed with Coleman inside the Everton half, causing an injury that could leave even the least squeamish feeling a little uncomfortable. Leg firmly on backwards, paramedics rushed to the aid of the Irish international, placing him on a stretcher to remove him from the pitch. In an act of defiance Coleman sat up on the stretcher and gestured toward the travelling Evertonians, encouraging them to cheer their team back into the game.

Everton drew the match 2-2 and stayed up by two points, condemning both Leeds and Leicester to the drop.

Gaffer for a day

From full-back to the dugout. ➡️

Seamus Coleman assisted former Toffees teammate Leighton Baines in January 2025, taking charge of the Blues’ 2-0 FA Cup third-round victory over Peterborough United. 👏 pic.twitter.com/8GFvdovpz5

— Everton (@Everton) May 20, 2026

After a disappointing start to the 2024/25 season, Everton dismissed manager Sean Dyche just hours before a third round FA Cup tie against Peterborough United.

Managerless, and needing someone to fill in, Everton called on Seamus Coleman and his former full-back partner in crime Leighton Baines to lead the team from the dugout.

Following a rousing reception at kick off, Baines and Coleman led Everton to a 2-0 win and booked their ticket in the next round. Could we see the two Everton giants in the dugout again in the future?

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