Séamus Coleman Remains Committed to Republic of Ireland Future
Séamus Coleman has told Heimir Hallgrimsson he wants to keep playing for the Republic of Ireland – but not yet.
Ireland’s long‑serving captain has chosen to sit out the upcoming UEFA Nations League window, with Hallgrimsson revealing the 37-year-old felt it would be “unfair” on team-mates to accept a call-up while he remains without a club.
Coleman’s 17-year stay at Everton ended at the close of last season. Since then, the Donegal defender, who turns 38 next month, has been training alone and searching for a new deal, just like fellow free agent and Ireland international Robbie Brady.
Both were missing when Hallgrimsson named his squad on Thursday for the four opening Nations League fixtures. The manager stressed that absence should not be read as a farewell.
“My intention, in whatever shape or form that will be, he will be with us in the future, hopefully as a player. His intention is to play, he is keeping fit but he hasn't been training with a club or with a team,” Hallgrimsson said, confirming Coleman and Brady are actively looking for new employers.
The decision to leave Coleman out was made together, but the manager was clear where the final call lay.
“We felt, together, it was more his decision that it was appropriate he would sit out this one. Mostly because he felt it was unfair to other players that he would be picked at this moment.”
Injuries, returns and a calculated gamble
Nathan Collins was always likely to miss out. The Brentford defender picked up a calf injury earlier this month and was not included. Hallgrimsson expects him back in club colours once the international window closes.
There was better news on two longer-term absentees. Evan Ferguson and Josh Cullen, both sidelined since November 2025, are edging towards a return. Ferguson has been battling ankle problems, while Cullen has been recovering from a cruciate knee ligament injury.
“They will probably start training on the grass with (their club teams) after the FIFA window sometime. So maybe next camp is their time,” Hallgrimsson said, hinting at a November boost.
He has still taken a bold step with Bosun Lawal. The versatile Stoke City player, capped once at senior level, has been called up despite carrying an injury and is not expected to feature heavily.
“He is injured at the moment, but we still rate him that highly,” Hallgrimsson said.
“We still want him in the camp, being with us and around us. I don't expect him to play much.
“But we are in collaboration with Stoke City, just to see how much he can do and will load him and hopefully he can take some part in the end of this camp.
“But we rate him that highly that we think it is necessary for him to be around the squad.”
Kosovo, Israel and an uneasy agreement
Ireland open their Nations League campaign away to Kosovo in Pristina next Thursday. Then come two fixtures that have dominated the conversation far beyond tactics or team selection.
The second group game will be the first of two controversial meetings with Israel, both to be played at neutral venues in Hungary and Serbia.
Hallgrimsson said he spoke to every squad member individually to understand their stance on taking part in those matches.
“I have spoken to all of them individually on that, because you shouldn't be doing this (in) a group talk,” he said.
“And obviously we have different opinions, different strength of opinion. I think it's best to say, without going into individual (situations), none of us feel comfortable playing these games.
“But once we have decided to play them, we all stick together and play as one, and we want to represent Ireland with the best games and performances that we can.
“So that's just that's the agreement between all of us. But obviously, we don't have to all share the same opinion, and that's just human nature.”
Momentum meets a new Nations League reality
All of this unfolds against a changing backdrop. UEFA’s restructure of the Nations League will reduce the competition from four tiers to three, removing the threat of automatic relegation from League B to League C.
Hallgrimsson is not treating that as a free hit.
“(There are) lots of reasons why we want to do really well in these Nations League matches,” he said.
Ireland arrive on a roll. Seven games unbeaten. Fewer goals conceded. Performance metrics heading in the right direction.
“Again, the importance of this moment, these games, we are on a good run, we are on a positive spiral, we (would) like to keep that going, (and) have not lost in the last seven matches. Long may that continue.
“We are conceding less goals and all the metrics that we are using to kind of look at how our performance is improving.”
Coleman, for now, watches from the outside, working alone and waiting for a contract. The question is not whether he returns to the Ireland fold. It’s whether, by the time he does, this unbeaten run has grown into something that can finally carry them back to a major tournament.
