Everton boss Ronald Koeman has had a spiky relationship with Irish football ever since he took over as Everton boss, thanks largely to the injury woes of James McCarthy and our preference to have him in the side even if he's not at 100%.
Koeman would have surely been livid to see McCarthy rushed back for the Wales game, only the be withdrawn due to an injury in the warm-up, but when it comes to the damage done to Seamus Coleman later that night, the Dutchman feels nothing other than remorse for the player.
Speaking to Everton's official website, Koeman revealed that he had spoken to the Killybegs man shortly after his injury, before paying him an extremely big compliment to his work-ethic and attitude.
It’s a big, big blow for the player and a big, big blow for the Club. It takes time for everybody to come to terms with something like this and, of course, that is felt most deeply by Seamus himself.
He was in pain when we spoke - it is normal to have some pain after such an injury – and, naturally, he was feeling very down. This is all normal. But he knows he will have a lot of support and the reaction of Evertonians, their thoughts and good wishes and the reaction of so many other people as well who follow the game will mean a lot to Seamus.
In all my years in football, Seamus is one of the best professionals I’ve ever worked with at any club.
His dedication to the game, his attitude and motivation are always where they should be and that’s 100 per cent, and he’s like that in training every day as well as in games.
That mentality will really be helpful to him now in not only coming to terms with what has happened but in setting out on the road to recovery and, over time, in him building himself once more to the level he has maintained over many years here at Everton. That strength of character will be a big, big thing.
That, aside from being absolutely spot on and what all Irish fans, players, and pundits have been saying in the wake of the incident, is extremely high praise considering the players that Koeman has worked with in his career.
To say that Seamus Coleman is one of the best professionals he's ever worked with, considering his successful time at PSV and Barcelona, as well as the Dutch side that won Euro 88, is delightful to hear.
It's a great tribute to the man, so let's hope his recovery goes to plan and we see him back out on the pitch soon.
