Seamus Coleman Omitted from Ireland Squad for Nations League Matches

Seamus Coleman has been left out of the Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming Nations League window, a striking omission for a player who has defined a generation of Irish defending.

The 37-year-old, without a club since ending his 17-year spell at Everton at the close of the 2025-26 season, was involved as recently as June’s international friendlies. This time, his name is missing from a 26-man list for four matches that will stretch the depth of Heimir Hallgrimsson’s options.

Upcoming Matches

Ireland face Kosovo away on 24 September, then travel on to meet Israel on 27 September before a clash with Austria on 1 October. They round off the window with a second Group B3 fixture against Israel on 4 October. Coleman will watch it all from the outside.

Hallgrimsson, announcing his squad on Thursday, made it clear this is not a farewell.

“It is my intention in whatever shape or form that he [Coleman] would be with us in the future, hopefully as a player,” the Ireland manager said, underlining that the door remains open.

Coleman’s problem is not fitness, but rhythm. He has been training to stay in shape, yet has not been working with a club squad since his Everton exit, where he amassed 433 appearances for the Toffees and captained both club and country. That lack of competitive training weighed heavily on the decision.

“His intention is to play, he's keeping fit but he hasn't been training with a club so we felt together, and it was more his decision, that it would be appropriate he sit out this one, mostly because he thought it was unfair to other players that he would be taking up a place,” Hallgrimsson explained.

The veteran is not the only experienced figure missing. Robbie Brady is also absent, similarly unattached at club level, stripping the squad of another seasoned campaigner.

Injury has bitten hard too. Captain Nathan Collins is out as he recovers from a calf injury picked up in Brentford’s 1-1 Premier League draw with Sunderland on 5 September. The spine of the side takes further hits with Evan Ferguson (ankle), Josh Cullen (knee), Jack Taylor (knee) and Mikey Johnston (ankle) all unavailable, while Oisin McEntee was also ruled out through injury. QPR defender Jimmy Dunne joined the list earlier this month after sustaining a muscular problem.

That many absentees force change. They also create opportunity.

Sheffield United loanee Liam Kitching has been rewarded with his first senior call-up. The left-sided centre-back, on a season-long loan from Coventry City, steps into a defensive unit suddenly short on caps and long on potential. He is joined by uncapped Cardiff City defender Joel Bagan and Sligo Rovers’ Owen Elding, both in contention to make their debuts during this four-game block.

A squad once built around Coleman’s authority now leans on emerging defenders and a patched-together core. The Nations League will test whether this reshaped Ireland can grow quickly enough without its long-time standard-bearer on the pitch – and whether Coleman’s next chapter in green will come in time to influence it.