Hallgrimsson urges Seamus Coleman to continue Ireland career

Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has made it clear he wants Seamus Coleman to prolong his international career, despite growing speculation that the veteran defender may be considering retirement. The 37-year-old Everton captain was at the heart of an emotional night at the Aviva Stadium, earning his 79th cap in a goalless draw with North Macedonia that could prove to be his last for the national team.

Coleman, who has made just three starts for Everton all season and played only 12 minutes in the Premier League, led Ireland out alongside his children on Tuesday. The atmosphere inside the stadium turned especially poignant when he was substituted after 61 minutes, sparking a standing ovation and choruses of “There’s only one Seamus Coleman” from the 39,560-strong crowd. Many fans saw this as a potential farewell for one of Ireland’s most respected players.

But Hallgrimsson is far from ready to let him go. Speaking after the match, the Republic boss said he and his staff had urged Coleman to stay on with Ireland, expressing hope that the full-back could even feature at Euro 2028.

“We had a good talk and we want him to go as long as he can, as a player,” Hallgrimsson said. “It would be great for him to hopefully play in Euro 2028 in Ireland. Our desire is to keep him for a long, long time.”

Hallgrimsson praised Coleman’s influence on and off the pitch, highlighting his value in mentoring younger players and consistently performing at international level. “He is good at helping the young players to grow,” Hallgrimsson added on RTE. “He is a good player and shows a good performance game after game at an international level so why should he retire?”

Coleman himself has not made any immediate decisions regarding his future with Ireland. He had previously said he would not rush into retirement following last week’s World Cup semi-final play-off defeat against Czech Republic in Prague, a match where he played 96 minutes before Ireland lost on penalties.

For now, he’s expected to take some time to reflect before announcing whether he will continue.

The days leading up to Tuesday’s friendly were challenging for the entire squad. After missing out on a first World Cup appearance in over two decades due to their shootout loss in Prague, morale was low and training sessions suffered. “The four days after the [Czech Republic] game have been tough,” Hallgrimsson admitted. “We gave them a day off on the first day just to spend time with their family. That was key.” He described their initial return to training as “awful,” citing slow tempo and questions over how best to motivate tired players.

Despite these difficulties, Hallgrimsson praised his team’s response against North Macedonia, noting their ability to compartmentalise disappointment and show resilience in front of home fans. The match itself saw Troy Parrott have two first-half goals disallowed for offside before hitting the post after halftime. Substitute Johnny Kenny nearly snatched victory in stoppage time but saw his effort saved by North Macedonia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.

While attention around Coleman’s future dominated post-match discussion, Hallgrimsson was quick to dismiss any talk of an imminent coaching role for his captain should he decide to retire from playing duties.

For now, all focus remains on persuading him to stay on as a player.

As things stand, Seamus Coleman is going away to consider his next steps after an emotional international window that included both heartbreak and celebration. If Hallgrimsson gets his wish, Irish fans may yet see their captain lead them out again on home soil at Euro 2028.