Coleman focused on friendlies before assessing future

Seamus Coleman has indicated that he is adopting a 'wait and see' approach to his future after deciding in the short term be part of the Republic of Ireland squad for the forthcoming friendly games against Qatar and Canada.

The 37-year-old called time on his 17-year Everton career at the end of the Premier League season but left the door open to continuing to play international level and add to his 79 international caps.

Coleman left the Premier League club on the expiration of his contract, having made a record 374 appearances for the Toffees, many of those as captain.

The Republic of Ireland face World Cup-bound Qatar at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday (19:45 BST) and then face a trip to Montreal to face World Cup co-hosts Canada on 6 June (00:30).

After that, he will weigh up his options further in terms of finding a new club and even making a decision whether he will continue playing or dip his toe into the coaching side of the game.

"I have always said in my career, family first, football second, they are the only two things going for me, family and football," said Coleman at a media conference before the match with Qatar.

"So family will absolutely come into it, but I honestly haven't thought too much about a club or what is next.

"I am looking forward to these two Ireland games and am looking forward to going on holiday, but in football, you never know what will happen. Just see what is next, if it feels right or if it doesn't."

Coleman reflected that an appearance at the upcoming World Cup may have been the ideal way to bow out had Heimir Hallgrimsson's side qualified for the finals.

He brought his children onto the pitch with him at the end of the friendly defeat by North Macedonia in Dublin at the end of March as he pondered his future but says the intervention of his international manager and the possibility of being part of the Euro 2028 tournament on home soil have left him with much to think about.

"I think it was just a conversation with the manager on the bus, just after training one day that got me thinking again," he said.

"I wasn't necessarily thinking about it, but I also know I have a responsibility to stay fit and stay active and to be performing, because it is not a given, of course.

"That is why I am not dead set on what I am going to do, I am going to take my holiday and see what's out there, but the carrot of the Euros and the manager at the moment wanting me to be around is definitely very tempting.

"I think if we'd got to a World Cup, maybe things would be different, but I spoke to the manager and he said if I can be fit and well and perform and he would like to have me around."

The impending international window is first and foremost in the veteran's considerations for now.

"As soon as the carrot of Ireland got dangled in front of me, that became a massive factor in my decisions and I'm looking forward to the two games now in the summer and having a break and kind of seeing where I go to next or where I stand after that."

"I have been unfortunate with some injuries so maybe there is not as many miles on the clock as maybe some other 37-year-olds. Physically, I do feel really good, I am not up and down like a 24-year-old but I do feel really good, so again, I am not going to look as far ahead as 40.

"But it is going to be a nice summer to sit down, relax, see how I feel, reflect and see where we go from there."