In football, in sport, there are workers and there are naturals. There are those who are at the high end of both (Cristiano Ronaldo, for example). It is generally acknowledged that Seamus Coleman comes into the former category. The pride of Killybegs has undoubted natural ability but one always gets the impression that it was through sheer graft and hard work that took him from the bench at Sligo Rovers to the nailed-on right-back spot at Everton and the role as passionate leader of his country.
Seamus Coleman's angry appreciation would have me feeling confused if I was on the receiving end. #ITAIRL pic.twitter.com/7hbZYFUEpd
— 888sport (@888sport) June 22, 2016
And now Coleman's former captain at Everton, Phil Neville - himself, like his brother Gary, famed for his work ethic - has confirmed this. Neville was speaking to Graham Hunter recently for Hunter's 'The Big Interview' podcast, and he put Coleman in some esteemed company when discussing the development of modern footballers and their attributes.
Because there are not that many, you can actually pick out those ones that you think, 'Those are street footballers. They've come up the hard way. They've actually done it.' And I use the example at Everton of Seamus Coleman.
Seamus Coleman played for a team in Ireland (Sligo Rovers), £60,000 bought, didn't go through the academy system.
Scruffy tracksuit, say - not matching. No flashy trainers. Came in, he had hunger. He would run through that brick wall.
And did he have the best ability at the start? No. But he had more determination.
Now? Probably one of the best full-backs in the Premier League. Now captaining Republic of Ireland in the European Championships.
He had the hunger. And Suarez has it. Sanchez at Arsenal.
A fascinating insight - one of many in the piece, including Neville's experiences regularly playing cricket against Australia Test internationals as an 11-year-old, his views on Spanish culture (he lives in Valencia), football culture in England versus that in Spain and the treatment of his brother Gary during his time at Valencia.
You can listen to the episode (part 1) below. Neville starts his Coleman eulogy around 23 minutes.
https://soundcloud.com/thebiginterview/phil-neville-out-of-the-1
