FRANK LAMPARD SAYS a conversation with Seamus Coleman on his first day as Everton manager convinced him of the defender’s qualities, describing the Toffees captain as “an incredible player.”
Everton found themselves in a relegation battle this season but narrowly avoided dropping down to the Championship, securing Premier League survival in dramatic fashion with a 3-2 win against Crystal Palace in their penultimate game of the season.
Following that game, footage emerged of Lampard singling Coleman out for praise in the Everton dressing room.
And Everton manager Lampard – who replaced the sacked Rafa Benitez in January – has outlined his admiration for Coleman again in an interview with evertontv.
“On day one [of Lampard's tenure], Seamus came to me, sat in my office and was honest about the club,” Lampard said.
“Things that will remain private. But he was honest about the situation and the size of the situation.
I could see straight away the burden Seamus was carrying, in a good way, because he cares so much, and he just wanted to change it.
“From then on, after those words, his actions have been something else: speaking, training, standards every day, performances in games.
“I have never seen humility like it, in my time in football.
“I heard a lot of good things about Seamus before I came to the club.
“He has gone there and beyond.
“I was being honest [when declaring Coleman one of the best people I’ve met], I have never met anyone who has his morals and standards and he is an incredible player.
“You talk about legends of football clubs and he is certainly one of those.”
Coleman featured 30 times for Everton in the Premier League this season, and has made 384 appearances for the club since joining from Sligo Rovers in 2009.
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An absolute gentleman and a hero on the pitch. To think Trappatoni brought Paul McShane to Euro 2012 ahead of Coleman is one of footballs great mysteries !
@John Clare: Forgot about that. Mother of God
@John Clare: Paul McShane will forever be remembered for letting the ball bounce in the box in Paris
@John Clare: Great sins actually John.
Seamie is obviously a legend. But this lads previous captain was John Terry, so definitely there was alow threshold of expectation here
Fabulous tribute to a great lad who is very grounded where a lot of other players stand on individual pedestals..A great ambassador for the game of what soccer should be about “team effort”
@C_O’S: exactly. Perfect comment.
Im not sure but i’d say frank is a fan.
@A$AP Ragnick: Or he’s not renewing his contract.Snakes everywhere in thst game!
@Gerry campbell: that is what I was thinking. Sounds like he could be leaving or something. Feels a bit like the way Pep talked about Aguero.
Jeez Frank just ask him out already.
Our captain.