Everton and Ireland star Seamus Coleman on the 'strange' factor behind his longevity
Seamus Coleman has signed a new one-year deal with Everton and, turning 26 in October, is hoping to feature in the next World Cup campaign.
Seamus Coleman reckons there is a “strange” reason behind his longevity.
The Everton and Ireland star says he feels as fit as ever as he prepares for a new Premier League campaign, just three months out from his 36th birthday.
Not only has he club ambitions, but the Donegal native says he is dreaming of World Cup qualification in two years’ time under new Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrímsson.
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The Toffees legend said it was tough watching Euro 2024 from home - and that too many World Cups and European Championships had passed without Irish involvement.
The next World Cup takes place across the USA, Mexico and Canada in 2026 and Coleman doesn’t want to miss out.
But why does he believe that he is still incredibly fit and ready to put his body through the rigours of another year in the English top-flight?
“I do feel like missing 10 months with the leg break and five with the knee, you don’t have that same toll on your body,” he replied, pointing to recent long-term injury lay-offs.
“You have time to recover and have time to miss what you do.
“In a strange way I definitely think that’s added a bit of longevity to me too.
“I still have that fire in the belly, missed out on maybe 10 or 20 international caps in that time, you are forever trying to just keep going.”
As for lining out at the World Cup in two years’ time, he added: “It would be incredible. You’ve got to dream and hope. You have got to get there.
“You saw some of the nations that were at the Euros, the likes of Georgia and that, they were brilliant. That’s where we want to get there.
“I do feel we will have benefited from all the younger players who have come through and got so many caps now.
“Hopefully some of the senior lads are letting them know that there is a bigger picture to it, it’s about qualifying.
“I think we’ve got some great quality and some great players and some great lads coming through. We have to believe and we have to hope that things will change.”
Coleman will be 37 by that stage, but he said: “When I get to my age, it’s like one day at a time. I’m just enjoying it.
“I’m fit, we’ve been training hard here, but I made sure I came back in good condition, with all the testing and that.
“I feel as fit as I have done in pre-season in a long, long time.
“Ultimately games are different. I’m not getting any younger, I’m not going to be bombing up and down like I used to. But we’ll just see where I’m at closer to the time, but I feel good.”
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