NIALL McGinn confirmed today that Seamus Coleman was on trial at Celtic when he was brought in by the club but the defender didn’t earn a deal with the Bhoys at the time.
Instead, Coleman went back to Sligo Rovers and then headed out to Everton where he has stayed and become a very solid player for the Premier League outfit for the best part of ten years.
That got us thinking…
Who turned Seamus away? And who was playing in that right back position when we did turn the youngster down?
Celtic manager Gordon Strachan was the one in charge when McGinn came in and must have had a big say on who came in. Neil Lennon was a coach at the club but it’s unclear how much say or sway he had with Gordon at the time.
John Park was the head scout at the time and he could have been the one who got Seamus through the door but wouldn’t have had final say on whether the player earned a deal
Our two main right backs at the time?
Andreas Hinkel and Mark Wilson; two players who did well for the club, Hinkel was injury prone but was effective in the position when fit and Mark was a good hand and had his moment.
Of course, hindsight is a wonderful thing but Seamus has turned out to be a very good player and has won nearly 50 caps for his country during his career.
What did Everton see in the star that Celtic didn’t?
Celtic’s transfer policy is now very much geared towards bringing in young players and developing them.
Had Coleman been trialled now or in the past few years, he may not have slipped through the net.
Since moving to Goodison Park, Coleman has made 267 appearances, scored 25, assisted in 25 and has never been sent off for the club. According to TransferMarkt.com, the defender’s highest market value was £17.4million with his current set around £10million as he enters his 30s.
It has to go down as a missed opportunity. Not up there with letting Shay Given go back in the 90s but talent we need to be locking down when given the chance.
