Coleman is one of the best, insists Holloway

SÉAMUS Coleman has been labeled as one of the best full backs in the world, with the potential to play for one of Europe’s biggest teams. The praise comes from his former boss Ian Holloway on the eve of the fifth anniversary of the defender’s €70,000 move from Sligo Rovers to Everton.

Just days after he scored on his 120th appearance for the club, Holloway, who gave Coleman his first serious run in English football when he took him on loan during Blackpool’s successful promotion to the Premier League in 2010, has watched on in admiration as the 25year-old’s career blossomed.

‘I think he’s got every potential to play for some of the biggest clubs in Europe – but I believe Everton can go there,’ said the former Crystal Palace boss.

‘With Roberto Martinez in charge, I think he’s exactly what Séamus needs. He’ll love how the manager plays the game, he’ll learn from him and he’s only getting better and better. There’s not many better full backs in any other country around the word.

‘When you think how little he cost – it’s embarrassing! I was gutted and went mad at my club; I asked them why aren’t we scouting Ireland?’

Coleman signed for Everton from Sligo almost exactly five years ago, and was set for a season-long loan move to Blackpool before he picked up an infection in pre-season that almost cost him a toe.

Looking back, Holloway believes that injury helped the player – even if he might not have realised it at the time as he was attempted to make his mark.

‘Without the toe injury, he might have come to us a bit earlier, I almost had him for the entire season, but it might not have worked out the same,’ he explained.

‘When I spoke to [David] Moyes about taking him on loan in March the next year, I said “he’s going to play – he’ll be straight in the team”, but at the start of the year that wouldn’t have been the case – he’d have come to us as a squad member. But we got an injury and we’d no other right back, so I asked Moyes if we could have him.

‘Our scout knew exactly what I was looking for, and he said Séamus was that, exactly.’

Coleman played 90 minutes of every game he was available to play under Holloway – and the former Palace boss admits he’s not surprised at all by how his career has progressed in the three and a half years since.

‘He’s never looked back, and that’s very rare,’ he said. ‘When someone gets in a team and does so well, and keeps progressing, there’s normally a dip somewhere, where they go backwards. He just hasn’t had that. Is that just ability? I don’t think so. It’s him as a person too.

‘You need all the details; hard working, a good upbringing – he’s got all that and a bit more. It’s just everything about him, he’s such a down to earth boy, he just wants to work hard, and really wanted to win.

‘I’ve seen it in lots of players in my career, but he was infectious, and he never moaned. He’s just a lovely kid, a proper bloke.

‘He appreciates life. Some of the players are spoiled, but he just wants to win, he’s one of the best players you could hope to get.’