Everton conclude their Premier League campaign with a game against Newcastle United tomorrow
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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Seamus Coleman of Everton is substituted for Ashley Young during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Southampton FC at Goodison Park on May 18, 2025 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. Goodison Park, home of Everton Football Club since August 24, 1892, will play host to its final Men's First Team fixture today ahead of the clubs move to the Hill Dickinson Stadium for the 2025/26 season. (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Seamus Coleman is embraced by Ashley Young after making an early exit from Everton's Goodison Park farewell
(Image: Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty Images)
Seamus Coleman’s final farewell to Goodison Park did not go to plan. The Everton captain was forced off inside the opening 20 minutes of the game against Southampton after picking up a thigh strain.
Coleman was making just his fifth Premier League appearance of the season, and David Moyes admitted post-match that he was disappointed to see his skipper depart the action as early as he did. In the build-up to last Sunday’s farewell at Goodison, Moyes confirmed that Coleman will remain at the club next season, bringing an end to speculation that the Donegal man will move on once his contract expires this summer.
For Coleman, though, he admits that the season has been one of mixed emotions given the time he has spent on the sidelines.
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“The end result, absolutely, was for Everton Football Club to be heading into our new stadium in the Premier League,” he said. “That’s been hanging over our heads for a few years and now it’s done.
“So, yeah, unselfishly, the goal was thankfully achieved, but, you know, for my pride and professionalism, I’ve been disappointed with my availability this season – there is absolutely no getting away from that.
“I’ve had a couple of little niggles, I had an issue with my knee which I got resolved and that helped, but I picked up another couple of little ones.
“The flip side to it is I’ve lived every minute of it and more than ever when it wasn’t going well earlier in the season.
“It ended up me even standing on the sideline as a manager alongside Bainesy (Leighton Baines), when I was supposed to be on the bench that day.
“The emotions and the stress levels have been through the roof because of the uncertainty.”
The 36-year-old was given a raucous ovation from the Everton faithful as he left the field, and his team-mates couldn’t help but praise their skipper following the 2-0 victory.
“Skip is massive here,” Dwight McNeil said in the Goodison tunnel. “He is a massive part of the club, and like I say, he has been here for a long time now.
“I said to him that it was an honour to start the game with him behind me. I am really thankful for that now and I will never forget that moment.
“He is a massive part of our club. It was unfortunate for him to come off as early as he did, but then Youngy (Ashley Young) came on, who is one of my closest friends here, and that was another privilege to play his last minutes at Everton with him.
“That is another moment that I will never forget. I am really privileged and honoured because they are legends of the game.”
Those thoughts were echoed by Young, who said: “For me, turning up on my first day, I was met by Seamus, and I couldn't be more welcomed into a club straight away.
“He's one that drives standards every day. He's a legend of this club. Day in, day out. Not just on the pitch, off the pitch.
“He's just a fantastic professional and he's an even better person. You could tell the emotions were there today and it was sad to see him come off, but he was still there in the dressing room, driving the standards.”
But while Young might be heading for the exit this summer, Coleman admits that following the appointment of Moyes back in January, he is now much more relaxed about the direction in which the Blues are heading in.
“I must say, since the gaffer has come in, now I do feel relaxed and that’s the biggest compliment I can give him,” the Republic of Ireland international said.
“I knew immediately there was someone in the building that will hurt every bit as much as me if Everton were to go down – and that there was someone in the building wanting Everton to succeed every bit as much as me.
“The manager has got unbelievable pride in being here. I know he’s been to Manchester United, West Ham, Sunderland, Real Sociedad, but I just feel like Everton is his club. He’s the manager, isn’t he?
“It’s helped me sleep a bit easier at night having him here again! I’ve been comfortable to step back a little bit because he gets it, and he knows what this is all about.
“The manager, Billy (McKinlay), Alan (Irvine)have all been fantastic for us. Bainesy, too, has been absolutely brilliant, which I think anyone who knew him knew he would be because he’s that character and whatever he puts his mind to, he’s nearly perfect in it.
“We’re in good hands and now we must all move forward, together.”