Richard Keys can’t hide his disbelief amid Kieran Trippier and Seamus Coleman Everton exit comparison
Richard Keys has raised controversy over Seamus Coleman’s Everton exit.
The Irish defender announced his decision to leave the Hill Dickinson Stadium at the end of the season just days ago.
It marks the end of a 17-year association with the Blues, where he became the club’s Premier League appearance record holder.
Keys compared it to Kieran Trippier’s exit at Newcastle, and he can’t believe one specific aspect of the pair’s exits from their respective clubs.
Everton fans will perhaps agree with the BeIN SPORTS pundit, because his point is a valid one.
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What did Keys say about Coleman’s Everton exit?
Coleman recently announced that he was calling time on his Everton career, as Trippier did with the Magpies.
Keys could not hide his disbelief at the way Trippier was lauded as a legend in the North East, especially considering that Coleman has had much more time with the Blues, as he witnessed them both play in front of their home crowds for the last time.
Writing in his blog on 18 May, he said: “One of these two players left their club this weekend, feted as a legend – Kieran Trippier, with 133 appearances for Newcastle over four and a half years.
Seamus Coleman, with 373 appearances over 17 seasons. He’s Everton’s all-time PL appearance holder. It’s pretty obvious which one isn’t it? Yep – Trippier.”
He added a shrugging emoji to show his disbelief.
Why did Keys react like this?
Perhaps Keys is referring to the way the Blues supporters left the stadium before Coleman’s farewell after the match.
If he is, that was a result of the proceedings only being announced at the final whistle, by which time, many had already left.
Coleman is definitely regarded as a legend on the blue half of Merseyside, there is absolutely no doubt about that.
He will leave with well wishes from every single Evertonian, and as he said in his statement announcing the departure, will always have a connection with the club.
In terms of a general fanfare from the wider footballing world, there may have been more for Trippier because of his standing in the game, as he was a regular part of the England squad that reached World Cup semi-finals and a European Championship final.
There is also the fact that the match between Trippier’s side and West Ham was live on Sky, so there were more eyes on it than the Toffees’ game with Sunderland, so it may have seemed like there was more attention on the 35-year-old.
One thing is for sure, Coleman is a much bigger legend with the L3 outfit than the England star would ever be at St James’ Park.
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