Republic of Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson has urged Seamus Coleman to continue his international career.

Everton defender Coleman, 37, has played just 12 minutes in the Premier League this season but won his 79th international cap in Tuesday’s 0-0 friendly draw against North Macedonia – having playing 96 minutes of their heartbreaking World Cup play-off semi-final defeat by the Czech Republic.

His children accompanied him as mascots before the game in Dublin and he appeared emotional during the national anthem, before receiving a standing ovation when substituted, leading to many thinking it was his last appearance in green.

But Hallgrimsson is hoping that Coleman will prolong his international career to enable him to play in Euro 2028, which Republic of Ireland will co-host, and refused to entertain talk of him joining the Irish coaching staff if he does retire.

“You ask him. It’s his decision, what he’s going to do, but we hope, and we told him, we hope he will stay on, and play with us next season, and and hopefully, for the Euros, played in Ireland, that would be a fantastic for him if he would be playing at that time.

“I like to have him as a player.

“He is a good player and shows a good performance game after game at an international level so why should he retire?” he added on RTE.