The captain will bring the curtain down on his long-running Everton career this month
Seamus Coleman acknowledges the fans with his family during the Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Liverpool, England
Seamus Coleman acknowledges the fans with his family during the Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland at Hill Dickinson Stadium on May 17, 2026 in Liverpool, England(Image: Getty Images)
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Everton FC captain Seamus Coleman will be involved in his final fixture with the club today, bringing an end to a remarkable 17-and-a-half-year spell as a Blue. The 37-year-old will call time on a story that saw him emerge as an icon on the pitch and a leader in the dressing room beloved by teammates, managers and supporters, after today's Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.
Coleman has captained Everton 141 times and his substitute appearance against Sunderland last weekend took him to 434 in total - moving him to 10th spot in Everton's all-time appearances list.
Coleman developed into one of the Premier League's great right-backs after signing from Irish side Sligo Rovers in a deal immortalised by his '60 grand' chant at Goodison Park and now Hill Dickinson Stadium.
Known for his humility and leadership away from the pitch as much as his performances on it, Coleman's acts of kindness and generosity have frequently earned admiration from supporters across the footballing world.
A character that prefers to stay out of the limelight, Coleman's good deeds have often gone under the radar. It goes without saying that Coleman has given much of his spare time to fans, without it being shared online or publicised in the media.
Here are eight times Seamus Coleman embodied the People's Club mentality.
When he donated £5,000 to help a six-year-old Everton fan get to Goodison Park
In 2016, Coleman donated £5,000 to help a young Everton fan get to Goodison Park. Blues mad Daire Flanagan was born with Apert Syndrome, which is characterised by the premature fusion of certain skull bones.
This prevents the skull from growing normally and affects the shape of the head and face.
Daire, who was not expected to live past his first 48 hours, made the trip of a lifetime from his home in Northern Ireland to Liverpool to meet his heroes at Goodison Park.
Everton fan Daire Flanagan meets Seamus Coleman
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The family had initially wanted to raise £1,000, but the Irish footballer's donation saw the total boosted to more than £7,000.
The Everton FC official Twitter account posted: "Amazing gesture by Seamus Coleman to help make young Blue's dream Goodison trip a reality."
The Republic of Ireland international, who was recovering from a broken leg at the time, was on hand to meet Daire at the club’s Finch Farm training ground on the day.
As reported by Belfast Live in March 2016, Coleman made the donation after reading about the campaign on the website. He also sent a message to the Facebook group set up to help Daire.
Coleman said: "I read Daire's story online and would love to help get him his trip to Goodison next season. I made a donation of 5 thousand pounds and hope that can help get Daire and his family a safe trip to Liverpool. Looking forward to seeing you at a game next season."
When he joined hundreds of mourners at the funeral of a lifelong fan
Coleman was one of hundreds of mourners who came out to pay respects at the funeral of lifelong Blues fan Michael Jones in 2023. Michael, whose middle name was Goodison, died after an incident at the Bramley-Moore Dock stadium construction site, where he was helping to build the club's new stadium, on August 14, 2023.
On the day of the funeral, horses draped in Everton flags pulled a grand white cart bearing Michael's coffin towards his funeral at St Joseph and St Laurence church in Kirkby. Michael's family travelled in front in a blue hearse with images of Goodison Park on the side along with pictures of club greats Howard Kendall, Alan Ball and Colin Harvey.
The funeral procession for Everton fan Michael Jones on its way to St Joseph and St Laurence church in Kirkby
The funeral procession for Everton fan Michael Jones on its way to St Joseph and St Laurence church in Kirkby
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Everton's famous Latin motto, Nil Satis Nisi Optimum, was written across both the hearse and Michael's coffin, with the words 'Our Lad' spelt out in flowers on top. The procession was led by bagpipers.
People lined the streets in Kirkby wearing Everton shirts and scarves to pay their respects to passionate Blues fan Michael, who travelled everywhere to watch his beloved team, while local residents hung blue flags and banners out of their windows as the procession passed by.
Club captain Coleman led an Everton delegation at the funeral that also included club chief executive Colin Chong, Blues ambassadors Graham Stuart and Ian Snodin and club chaplain Henry Corbett.
When he made two incredible donations to Liverpool fan Sean Cox
Sean Cox suffered life-changing brain injuries in April 2018 when he was attacked outside Anfield ahead of Liverpool's Champions League semi-final with Roma.
A fundraising page was set up to help with the Irish Reds fan's rehabilitation as Sean needed long-term intensive care and support in Dun Laoghaire.
Liverpool fan Sean Cox
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Coleman made a €5,000 contribution in 2018. And, in March 2019, the Republic of Ireland international made another donation of the same amount - helping the page reach a massive total of €1,013,830.
Despite already donating a hefty sum of money to help Sean's cause, the Everton defender explained why he made another contribution at the time.
Coleman commented on the fundraising page saying: "I have just met Sean’s lovely wife Martina and just really wanted to help again and hopefully by doing so will keep raising awareness for Sean and his family. Best wishes."
Sean's wife Martina said her husband would need care for the rest of his life after the incident.
"Our life has been turned upside down by what has happened to Sean," she explained.
"There is no sign of Sean being able to return home any time soon and even with extensive specialist rehabilitation efforts, which will take years, he will require care for the rest of his life."
When he made an amazing gesture for a 'heartbroken' Everton fan
Coleman stepped in at the eleventh hour to make sure a young fan could see the Merseyside derby last year. Mackenzie Kinsella, 16, became known worldwide when he spent over £1,000 to travel from Sydney to Merseyside in December 2025 to watch the famous game against Liverpool only for it to be postponed due to Storm Darragh.
Mackenzie's Evertonian roots stem from his Scouse mum Rita. He admitted at the time he was ‘heartbroken’ that the derby, due to be the last one played at Goodison Park, had been called off.
Mackenzie Kinsella, 16
Mackenzie Kinsella, 16, finally at a Merseyside derby
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Mackenzie’s spirits were lifted however when Everton captain Seamus Coleman invited him to the club's Finch Farm training ground on the Monday afterwards. The teenager met several of the first-team players and then manager Sean Dyche.
What Mackenzie wanted most though was the chance to see the rearranged derby live with Everton now being managed by David Moyes. His ticket from last time was still valid but a return trip seemed unlikely for many months due to the huge costs of flights until Coleman stepped in to help again.
Most flights were around $3,000 Australian dollars, which is equivalent to roughly £1,500. Mackenzie told the ECHO: "I was fairly accepting (that I wasn’t going to make it)."
This was still the case when Everton emailed Mackenzie to ask if he had managed to get to Liverpool.
Within half an hour of this conversation, the club emailed him again telling him that Coleman would pay for a flight to get him over for the game and Mackenzie was delighted.
He said: "To get that email was just amazing. The fact that it’s Seamus who has done so much for the club already adds to that feeling. I was looking at paying $3,000 Australian dollars. I really couldn't afford that and I'm so grateful that he paid for them."
When he surprised the 1878s as they prepared for the final game at Goodison Park
Coleman surprised a loyal supporter group while they were preparing for the final game at Goodison Park. The 1878s, who have organised coach welcomes as well as displays within the stadium over the past three seasons, were working to get their display finished when they were treated to a surprise visit from the club captain.
The 1878s with their farewell Goodison Park banner and Everton player Seamus Coleman
The 1878s with their farewell Goodison Park banner and Everton player Seamus Coleman(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)
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Coleman thanked the club for all they had done over recent seasons, before helping to hold up a huge banner on the Gwladys Street End celebrating Everton icons from all eras, including Howard Kendall, Duncan Ferguson, Richarlison, Kevin Ratcliffe and Neville Southall. He then spent time chatting to and posing for pictures with fans.
When he paid a surprise visit to a young Everton fan who had just lost his dad
Coleman was invited into the Walton home of then 11-year-old Will McKenzie, who was nominated to be a recipient of the club's BlueCrimbo Secret Santa campaign.
Will was a Goodison season ticket holder with his dad, Stephen, but was left heartbroken when his "best friend" passed away from pneumonia.
Seamus Coleman pays a surprise visit to Blues-mad Will McKenzie
Seamus Coleman pays a surprise visit to Blues-mad Will McKenzie(Image: Ian Cooper)
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The young Blue has shown courage and strength throughout and was chosen to get the special visit from Coleman.
He also received £1,000 worth of Everton gifts courtesy of the club's official retail partner Fanatics.
The Irishman was in place to answer the door when Will returned from school on Wednesday afternoon – putting a smile on the face of his young fan.
A shocked Will was joined by his mum Ann, his family and friends in their home and chatted with Coleman before posting a picture of the pair on social media.
Coleman said: “You understand the profile of what our job is and that young lads look up to professional footballers. I sometimes don’t see myself in that light but I know that Will was happy to see me and that’s all that matters, to put a smile on peoples’ faces.
“He was a bit shocked. I’m sure he was happy and it’s all about trying to make him happy and I know he’s a big Everton fan so it was good to chat to him.”
When he video-called a fan to present him with an award
A young fan was overcome with emotion as he found out he'd been named Everton's 'Fan of the Year' and received a surprise video call from club captain Seamus Coleman, reports the BBC.
Lewis Docherty, then aged 11, was given the award in honour of his dedication to the club and his efforts in helping to fundraise thousands of pounds for charity.
Lewis, who has quadriplegic cerebral palsy, also delighted Coleman by singing a rendition of his favourite chant.
When he paid a surprise visit to an elderly fan and gave him a card and chocolate
Coleman was described as an "absolute gent" when he paid a surprise visit to an elderly Everton fan. And the club captain didn't arrive empty handed - he handed the fan a signed shirt, chocolates and a card.
Adam Anson wrote on X: "Grandad got a surprise visit off Seamus Coleman this morning. First time I've seen him absolutely speechless. Seamus was an absolute gent with him - handing over a signed shirt, chocolates and a card before catching up over all things Everton."