Celtic missed a big chance to sign Everton full-back Seamus Coleman a decade ago according to former winger Niall McGinn.
The Aberdeen man says that the Republic of Ireland international was on trial at Lennoxtown in 2009 while he still played for Sligo Rovers. Coleman then signed for the Toffees soon after, and has been there ever since, racking up over 300 appearances at Goodison Park.
But, speaking to Si Ferry on Open Goal, McGinn recalled how Coleman had been in with a chance of moving to Celtic for a nominal fee.
“I remember walking into the canteen and Seamus Coleman was sitting there,” the Northern Irishman said. “I’d played against him because he was at Sligo Rovers and I was at Derry City. Both of us had had a good season and he was obviously on a few trials.
“But he obviously went on trial and it was probably Celtic’s biggest regret not signing him because he was going for maybe 50 or 60 grand at the time.
“Throughout my time there I think they only ever signed one guy (from a trial) and that was Milan Misun.”
Coleman signing could have changed recent Celtic history
McGinn’s revelation may come as a bit of a shock to some Celtic fans but it just shows how difficult it is to spot talent. Coleman was a little known player back then and had only featured in the League of Ireland. He perhaps just had a few bad days at Lennoxtown and wasn’t signed as a result – showing how cut-throat a business football can be.
It’s remarkable to consider how many things about recent Celtic history may have been different had we signed Coleman. There may have been no Mikael Lustig had Coleman made an early impression. The Irishman may still have been playing as our right-back but he could equally have been signed by an English club for millions in the intervening time.
Thankfully now Celtic seem to be scouring the next generation of Irish talent. The likes of Luca Connell, Jonathan Afolabi and Lee O’Connor are all on board. All three are expected to be stars for their country in the coming years and hopefully they can make an impression at club level too.
Maybe that’s a sign that we’ve learned our lesson on the Coleman front.
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