Coleraine FC have announced that Mark Coyle will be the club’s captain for the upcoming domestic and European campaign.
The Burt native joined the Derry side from Shelbourne Fc at the turn of the year and he’s been a key member of the squad since his arrival.
The 29-year-old was also wore the armband for his former club, leading them to the League of Ireland Premier Division title in 2024.
Speaking about appointing Coyle as the club captain, Coleraine FC manager Ruaidhri Higgins said: “Mark is a natural leader on and off the pitch.
“He leads by example in how he conducts his business on a day-to-day basis.
“He’s got that drive and mentality you need on the pitch, he’s won the League of Ireland as captain of Shelbourne, so he’s got that experience of getting over the line, which is invaluable.
“Our next step is to try and win a league title and having someone with the experience of doing that is really important.
“He will work very closely with me, and I know he’s well-respected by all his team-mates.
“I’m sure it’ll be an extremely proud moment for Mark, and I think it would be special if he could repeat what he done at Shelbourne with us as it would be a unique achievement.
“That’s the goal, that’s the ambition and we aren’t going to shy away from it.”
Talking to the club’s media about becoming the captain at the Showgrounds residents, Coyle expressed that it’s a privilege for himself and his family.
“It is a huge privilege for me and my family.
“I’ve loved every minute since I joined in January, it’s a great club with great people and I’m also aware of the size of the club and the fan base.
“It’s a challenge I’m extremely excited for and I can’t wait to get started.
“I’m grateful to Ruaidhri for having that belief in me and seeing me as a leader.
“I want to lead by example through setting standards day in and day out and having your own house in order before setting demands from anyone else.
“I think it was massive for us as a group to win the Irish Cup last season.
“It’s now in the past, we have so much to look forward to this season and it’s about putting that into action now.”