On Sunday, social media buzzed with speculation that Seamus Coleman might have found a new club, not in professional football but with his local Gaelic football team, Killybegs.
The 37-year-old recently concluded a 17-year stint at Everton, leaving the Premier League club at the season’s end.
Although Coleman has remained without a club since then, he participated in international friendlies for the Republic of Ireland in June. Rumors swirled about a potential return to Gaelic football.
The Donegal Senior Football Championship kicked off on Saturday, with Killybegs facing Four Masters in their opening match on Sunday afternoon.
Despite the speculation, Coleman did not take the field for his hometown club, although reports suggest he has been training with Killybegs GAC to maintain his fitness while seeking a new football club.
Growing up in the fishing village of Killybegs in northwest Ireland, Coleman played both Gaelic football and soccer for St Catherine’s, demonstrating talent in both sports.
He earned a spot on the Donegal minor team, a significant achievement for young GAA players.
In 2009, Coleman chose to pursue a professional football career, joining Everton from Sligo Rovers in the League of Ireland, where he made 433 appearances.
He frequently returns to Donegal during his time off, supporting St Catherine’s and watching matches involving his county, though Killybegs lost their Donegal SFC opener 0-15 to 0-10 without him.
In May, Coleman announced his departure from Everton, having declined a coaching role offered by the club, in pursuit of continuing his playing career.
When he’s off or injured, Coleman often returns to watch Donegal and Killybegs’ Gaelic football teams. [Getty Images]
In anticipation of June’s international friendlies, Coleman expressed that adding to his 81 caps for the Republic of Ireland was a driving factor in his desire to keep playing.
“If we had reached a World Cup, things might have been different, but I spoke to the manager [Heimir Hallgrimsson], and he indicated that if I could stay fit and perform, he would like to have me involved,” Coleman noted. “So when the opportunity to continue with Ireland presented itself, it became a significant consideration in my decisions.”
With the new season in England starting soon, Coleman has yet to secure a new club and has turned to his local roots to maintain his fitness as he searches for a team.
While he has hinted at a potential return to Gaelic football with Killybegs in the future, that seems unlikely while he remains dedicated to his professional career, despite currently being a free agent.