Rafa Benitez has indicated veteran defender Seamus Coleman still has a big role to play in his Everton side, telling Royal Blue Mersey the “inspirational” Irishman is likely to remain captain.
At his introductory press conference this afternoon, the former Liverpool manager sounded like a man on the charm offensive, a coach who knows he’s under serious pressure from day one and facing an uphill battle as he looks to win over a sceptical fanbase.
Not only did Benitez attempt to clarify those notorious “small club” comments, insisting they had been taken out of context, he was also at pains to point out one of Everton’s favourite sons would be sticking around as another new era gets under way at Goodison Park.
What role will Seamus Coleman have under Benitez at Everton?
The long-serving Coleman will turn 33 in October.
And with reports suggesting Everton are looking to bring in a right-back – with reports ranging from Max Aarons to Zeki Celik via Denzel Dumfries – some wondered whether Coleman would be one of the first big casualties of the Benitez rebuild.
Not so, it seems.
“Since I came here, I’ve talked with (Coleman) so many times. I think he’s an inspiration for everyone,” said the one-time Real Madrid, Chelsea and Inter Milan coach.
“Can he be the captain? Yes, why not?”
Of course, Everton will need to find a way to manage Coleman’s minutes and bringing in a younger option at right-back would be no bad thing.
But with the 59-cap veteran set to retain the armband he inherited from Phil Jagielka in 2019, it seems Benitez believes the club’s most experienced performer still has a lot to offer.
Coleman was restricted to just 18 league starts last season but, whenever he did play, the rampaging right-back proved time again that age is but a number.
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