Coleman handed hybrid coaching role as Ireland boss aims to revive defender's playing career

Seamus Coleman has been handed a hybrid player-coach role within the Republic of Ireland setup, with manager Heimir Hallgrimsson using the arrangement to keep alive the veteran defender’s playing career after a summer without a club.

Coleman, 38, has been a free agent since leaving Everton at the end of last season and has spoken openly about the possibility of retirement. Although he was not included in Hallgrimsson’s 24-man squad for this month’s UEFA Nations League fixtures against Austria and Kosovo, the manager confirmed the former Ireland captain would join the camp and train alongside the players while also serving in a leadership and support capacity with the coaching staff.

“I can inform you that Seamus will be in some sort of a hybrid role this camp. He is going to do the sessions with the players, but he is going to be in a leadership role and supportive role with us as coaches,” Hallgrimsson said. “Hopefully that will get him to start playing again. That’s our aim, to try to push him to continue playing. He has expressed that he wants to do that. We need to see where he is at. He hasn’t done team training for some period now.”

The Iceland-born manager did not rule out a future call-up, pointing to Coleman’s performances for Ireland last season despite limited club minutes at Everton. “It makes us believe that he can always play for the national team and do good. But we will have to wait and see,” he added.

Elsewhere in the squad, fit-again captain Nathan Collins returns, along with Harvey Vale and goalkeeper Mark Travers. Ireland travel to Linz to face Austria on November 14 before hosting Kosovo in Dublin three days later. Two wins from those fixtures could secure promotion to League A, while a single point may be enough to earn a play-off berth and keep their European Championship qualification hopes on track.

Burnley midfielder Josh Cullen was left out as he continues his return from a lengthy injury lay-off. Hallgrimsson confirmed he spoke to Cullen in London and judged him not yet at international fitness. “He wants to wait and fully get his fitness back with staff at his club,” the manager said.

Everton forward Evan Ferguson and Jaden Umeh were also absent, with both players still working their way back from injuries.