Seamus Coleman was back in the spotlight on Monday night, and the Everton legend has kept one door open on his playing career.

The 38-year-old has been without a club since leaving Everton at the end of last season, having turned down a move to the Championship. He was in the Monday Night Football studio as Everton beat Newcastle 1-0 at St James’ Park to move up to seventh.

Seamus Coleman hasn’t ruled out playing again

Speaking on Sky Sports, Seamus Coleman said he’s been enjoying the media work, but that Ireland could tempt him back into playing.

“I’ve not drew a line in the sand completely in it, because I know the Ireland manager would be keen to have me around if I was fit, and obviously that’s still something I’m, you know, thinking about,” he said.

Coleman has 81 caps for his country. His last came in March, when Ireland lost to the Czech Republic in the World Cup play-off semi-final. Is that really how he wants it to end? You’d understand if the answer is no.

For now, though, he’s making the most of life away from the game. And he was honest about how much his final years at Hill Dickinson Stadium took out of him.

“I think maybe the last couple of years at Everton, stress and pressure was so high, that I’m actually just really enjoying, you know, my own time and being around my family.”

Seamus Coleman admits Everton ‘took over my whole being’

Coleman made a club-record 372 Premier League appearances for Everton and was club captain from 2019. Asked if he still feels the love for the club from the outside, he said: “Everton are my team, will always be my team, but you don’t realise how intensely you’re living it until you actually step out of it and go, ‘Oh my God, this took over everything. It took over my whole being.’”

He also lifted the lid on one old trick. Asked whether he used to pin Jamie Carragher’s comments on the dressing room wall, Coleman laughed it off, with Carragher sitting alongside him.

“Maybe not the dressing room wall, but there definitely was a few times I used what he said about Everton to try and spur the lads on, and it worked.”

With Liverpool heading to the Hill Dickinson Stadium on 29 November, you suspect a few of his comments might find their way onto the dressing room wall again.

Whether Coleman plays again or not, Everton will always have a place for him. Toffees fans have made it clear they hope he returns to Finch Farm one day.