Donegal’s Seamus Coleman has always had the reputation as one of the finest men in professional football, a reputation that has been more than cemented again this weekend.
After the stunning loss of Liverpool star Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva earlier this week, the entire footballing world at large was sent into a state of stunned grief.
Fans have gathered at Anfield to pay their respects to their Portuguese hero since the news of his tragic passing came through on Thursday.
However, on Friday night they were joined by an unlikely figure – at least in footballing terms.
Without any fanfare or any cameras in sight, Everton Captain Coleman arrived to pay his own respects to the brothers late on Friday night.
Seamus joined the dozens of fans who were paying their own tributes to Jota, one such fan who recognised him told the story via social media.
“Quarter past 11 on a Friday night and Seamus Coleman turned up to pay his respects,” the fan said.
“I said to him, ‘ I’m a red, me Seamus, and this means a lot that you’ve turned up at this hour’.”
“He says to me, ‘Sorry for your loss, I just wanted to pay my respects on my own without any cameras or fuss.’”
“Touched me that has, one of the most genuine fellas I’ve met.”