A longstanding Wolverhampton Wanderers captain, Conor Coady signed for Everton on loan for the 2022/23 season. Under new manager Bruno Lage, the Molineux club had moved from Coady’s preferred 3-5-2 format, with the local centre back the odd man out; meanwhile at Goodison, manager Frank Lampard was seeking to move to the same formation. For Coady, who was seeking to keep his England place ahead of the mid-season World Cup in Qatar, the move was ideal.

Born in February 1993 in St Helens, Coady began his football journey with Liverpool’s youth academy, making his senior debut for the Reds in 2013. Following a loan move to Sheffield United and a permanent one to Huddersfield Town, Coady’s career took off when he joined Wolves in 2015, becoming an indispensable figure in their defence and later their captain as they rose up to and then established themselves in the Premier League.

Coady had previously captained England’s under-17 team to European Championship success in 2010 and played at under-19 and under-20 level too. His form for Wolves saw him called up to the full England team in 2020, and he became their first player to achieve England honours since Steve Bull thirty years earlier.

And yet despite being a mainstay at Molineux, Coady was considered unable to perform as well in a back four. Even the England manager Gareth Southgate had publicly questioned this before giving him international honours. 

‘I can’t say anything other than positive things from what I’ve seen, but the system we’re playing at the moment… how would he be as a centre-back in a four?’ Southgate had said in 2020. ‘He’s playing as a sweeper in a back three, so it’s very different to how anybody else in the Premier League is playing. He’s very comfortable on the ball, but it’s quite difficult to put that into a back four.’

Bruno Lage evidently shared those concerns, but Wolves’ loss in summer 2022 was Everton’s gain.  Lampard praised Coady’s ‘experience, leadership, and quality,’ which he believed would bolster Everton’s fight for Premier League survival. Coady’s debut came in a 2-1 loss to Aston Villa, but he quickly established himself as a key figure in Everton’s backline, forming a solid partnership with James Tarkowski.

Throughout the season, Coady’s professionalism and vocal leadership earned him respect from fans and teammates alike. He made 25 league appearances, scoring one goal – a crucial strike in a 2-1 victory over Southampton. He also joined Jordan Pickford as an Everton representative in the England World Cup squad that reached the quarter finals in Qatar.

However, despite his contributions, Everton endured a tumultuous campaign, narrowly avoiding relegation. And when Sean Dyche succeeded Lampard as manager, Michael Keane was swiftly preferred to the loanee. Despite his solid performances, Everton opted not to make his loan move permanent at the end of the season.

Coady’s departure was met with disappointment by many fans, who appreciated his commitment and leadership during a difficult period for the club. Coady described the experience as ‘intense and emotional,’ adding, ‘It’s something I’ll never forget, playing for this great club.’

‘Everton was special to me,’ Coady admitted in a post-season interview. ‘I’ll always look back on it with pride.’

After leaving Everton, Coady made a permanent move to Leicester City in the summer of 2023. At Leicester, Coady continued to demonstrate the qualities that had defined his career: defensive solidity, tactical intelligence, and leadership both on and off the pitch. He played a pivotal role in Leicester’s successful bid for promotion back to the Premier League following their relegation in 2023.