Shane Long

At 37 years old, Shane Long has this physical status:

Shane Patrick Long (born 22 January 1987) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Southampton and the Republic of Ireland national team.

He also played hurling for Tipperary in his early life. Long began his football career at Cork City.

He later moved to Reading where, among other achievements, he scored three goals in ten substitute appearances during his team's Championship-winning 2005–06 campaign, guided his team into the Fourth round of the FA Cup by defeating Liverpool in a third round replay match in 2010, and later won a player of the season award.

He signed for Premier League side West Bromwich Albion in 2011 for a fee of £6 million, and joined Hull City in January 2014, then Southampton in August 2014.

On 23 April 2019, he scored the fastest goal in Premier League history. Long made his senior debut for the Republic of Ireland in 2007, and has since earned 80 international caps.

Early life

Long was born in Gortnahoe, County Tipperary, Ireland. He was a talented hurler and appeared in two All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship (under-18) semi-finals with Tipperary at Croke Park, and was regarded as a pacey and promising forward. Long was also playing Gaelic football at this time, and started his career in the game with Two-Mile Borris club St Kevin's FC in 1994, joining St. Michael's in Tipperary Town in 2002.

Personal life

In June 2013, Long married his partner Kayleah Adams in Enniskerry in County Wicklow. They have three children.

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Club career

Pat Dolan discovered long and brought a scholarship to Cork City on July 1, 2004. He was called to the first team squad for the 2005 season when boss Dolan was recalled by Damien Richardson, and the new manager gave him his senior League of Ireland debut on March 25, 2005 as a replacement for Joe Gamble. On May 2, his only other appearance in the Setanta Sports Cup was as a substitute. Reading made bids for both Long and Kevin Doyle following Dolan's consulting with his brother, Reading coach Eamonn Dolan. Cork were compelled to sell Doyle as a result of a labour stipulation, but the reason causing Long's removal were not clear. Long since 2005, he signed as a Reading player.

Long scored three goals in ten substitute appearances in Reading's Championship-winning 2005–06 season, his first league appearance since being introduced in Stoke City's 3–1 home win on Saturday. He was mainly second choice in the pecking order behind fellow Irishman Kevin Doyle, Dave Kitson, and Leroy Lita for the first season. He appeared in all of Reading's FA Cup games and scored one goal.

Long announced on July 4, 2007, a four-year deal to keep him at Reading until the end of the 2010–11 season.

Long, who was defeated by manager Steve Coppell in a 2–1 loss at Anfield on March 16, 2008, was involved in an incident involving his shirt flunging to the ground, citing frustration at his results and dissatisfaction with the match official Andre Marriner. Steve Coppell made a stern claim in the post-match interview, saying, "it will not happen again." Long had a complete apology on the official club website.

The 2008-09 season came to an end after scoring an equalizer in a 1–1 draw at Southampton before finishing the season with a brace in a 2–0 victory at Norwich City.

Long was fouled by Yossi Benayoun to win a 93rd-minute penalty as Liverpool led 1–0 at Anfield, bringing the match into extra time. Long then scored a spectacular header in the 100th minute in front of the Anfield Kop, which sent Reading into the FA Cup's fourth round to play against Burnley at home.

Long scored a crucial goal at home against Barnsley, who lost by a 1–0 victory to Reading. With a goal that resulted in a 2–1 victory over Doncaster Rovers at the Keepmoat Stadium the following Saturday, he continued his good form. His goalscoring resumed on Sunday, when he scored a brace against Plymouth Argyle on Sunday, securing Reading's third consecutive league victory and fourth goal in three games.

Long was suspended for a careless lunge at West Brom Ivorian defender Abdoulaye Mété on February 13, 2010, but he was ruled out for a fifth round match against West Bromwich Albion. It was his second straight dismissible offence of the season, with the first two procured away to Derby County in a Championship match in November. Long scored a brace in Reading's FA Cup quarter-final against Aston Villa on March 7, 2010, despite Reading leading 2–0 at halftime. However, Long's brace went to waste as Aston Villa booked themselves a spot in the semi-finals thanks to a hat-trick from Norwegian striker John Carew and a solo attack by Ashley Young in the second half. Long played his 150th game for Reading in the 4–1 Championship victory over Preston North End at the Madejski Stadium on May 2nd.

In Reading's 3–0 win over Crystal Palace on September 11, 2010, Long won two penalties and converted the first. Shane Long signed a one-year deal extension on November 4th, which will run into 2012. He scored twice against Derby on December 18th, his highest goal-scoring form of his life. On Boxing Day, he put on a brace against Bristol City. Long won by 2–1 on Monday after scoring another brace against Reading. Long then scored his only goal in the FA Cup's third round match against West Brom on January 8, 2011. Long was named Player of the Season award after an excellent season for Reading, defeating Jimmy Kébé and Jem Karacan.

Long scored two goals against Cardiff City in the second leg of the Championship Play-off semi-finals; one goal came from the penalty spot and the other was a lob after Cardiff goalkeeper Stephen Bywater blocked the action. Long received the Man of the Match award for his efforts. He had 28 goals in 58 games for club and country, his highest season to date. Long, who lost in the play-off final defeat against Swansea City, Reading chairman John Madejski declared him to be world-class: "What is the value I would place on him?" "The money went to £20 million."

Long signed for West Bromwich Albion on a three-year contract on August 9, 2011, with a further year's option available. Despite the fact that the fee was revealed, it is estimated that it would be £4.5 million, with add-ons that may increase to £6.5 million, a record fee for West Bromwich, and would be more than double the £4.7 million paid for Spanish international midfielder Borja Valero from Mallorca in 2008. Long was issued the number 9 shirt on August 12 and two days later, he made his league debut against Manchester United at The Hawthorns. He made his debut by scoring an equalizing goal that beat Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea, albeit in a losing effort, 2–1. Long scored in the fourth minute of his second match, against Chelsea on August 20, 2011 in what was yet another 2–1 loss. Long scored his third goal in the fifth minute against Sunderland on October 1st, his seventh game of the season. The match ended 2–2 with James Morrison scoring on the fourth minute.

Long was named man of the match against Wolverhampton Wanderers on October 16, 2011 despite not scoring. Chris Brunt scored in the eighth minute and Peter Odemwingie scored in the 76th minute, and West Brom lost 2–0. Long suffered a chipped bone in his knee during a match against Aston Villa that ended in a close match, excluding him for about six weeks. He played 90 minutes against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday, weeks before being expected to be injury-free, with Albion winning 2–1 against David Wheater, who was playing a header against a much more physical opponent. Long scored a goal off a deflected shot in the last minutes of a match against Queens Park Rangers, giving Albion a draw. Long found the net against Newcastle United on March 25 with a consolation goal in a 1–3 loss. He scored in a 2–3 loss to Arsenal on the final day of the season, marking his debut for West Brom with eight Premier League goals.

He began the season on a high note in 2012-2013 after winning two penalties against Liverpool. Despite missing the first penalty, he won the second, which Peter Odemwingie converted. He continued his good form with Premier League goals against Everton, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Sunderland, as well as a brace against Yeovil Town in the second round of the Football League Cup, placing him on seven goals for the season by the end of November. He scored 11 goals in all competitions, as well as two goals for the Republic of Ireland.

After West Brom boss Steve Clarke pulled out from the transfer window for the 2013–14 season, a move to Hull City was worth £5 million on the final day of the summer transfer window for the 2013-2014 season. Despite signing Stéphane Sessègnon and Victor Anichebe just minutes before, Clarke said that Long was required because he did not have enough attacking options, despite paying £6 million from Sunderland and Everton respectively. Long began and scored his first of the season against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge after limited starts at the start of the season. The game ended 2–2. Long's form against Aston Villa continued his good form against them in the first 11 minutes, earning him Man of the Match later in the game.

Long departed Hull City on January 17, 2014, for an undisclosed fee on a three-and-a-half-year contract. Long made his debut on January 28, 2014 at Crystal Palace in a 1–0 loss. Long began scoring in his next match, at Tottenham Hotspur's home on February 1, 2014, a 1–1 draw. He appeared in his first match against former team West Brom at the KC Stadium on March 22, 2014. Despite a warm reception by the travelling West Brom fans before the game, Hull won a penalty for Hull after 30 minutes, which has been interpreted as a dive by the West Brom supporters. West Brom fans booed his every move, and he scored his third Hull goal before halftime, giving Hull a 2–0 victory.

Long was involved in both legs of Hull's Europa League qualifying tie against AS Trencn before the 2014–15 Premier League season. Long's last official matches for Hull came on August 14, 2014, when he agreed with Southampton for a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee, which is estimated to be in the region of £12 million.

He made his first appearance for the club on Wednesday, replacing fellow debutant Duan Tadia for the final 16 minutes of Southampton's first game of the season. When he nodded a header just wide of the post, he had almost scored a late equalizer. Long scored his first Southampton goal against Stoke City in the League Cup on October 29th, putting his team 2–0 up in a 3–2 win.

In a 2–0 victory over Leicester City, he scored his first league goals for the club with a brace, having started as a replacement for Sadio Mané with 22 minutes remaining.

Long assisted teammate Sadio Mané twice inside three minutes as the latter scored the first hat-trick in Premier League history during the first half of a 6–1 demolition of Aston Villa. Long myself scored twice in the first half to put the Saints up five minutes from halftime. Southampton's Goal of the Season was a 35-yard lob that was deemed as Southampton's second attempt.

Long scored Southampton's final goal in a 3–0 victory over Dutch opponents Vitesse Arnhem at St Mary's Stadium in the Europa League third qualifying round's first leg. On the first weekend of the season, he scored his first Premier League goal of the season, coming off the bench against Newcastle to bring the game to a close. Long scored two goals against Arsenal on December 26, 2015 in a game that ended 4–0 to Southampton. In a 4–2 home win over Manchester City on May 1, 2016, he scored his 100th career goal in English football.

Long agreed to a new deal with Southampton on July 21, extending his stay with the club until 2020. On December 31, 2016, he stopped Southampton with a barren streak of 23 games without a goal, as he came to a 1-0 lead against West Bromwich Albion at St. Mary's. To the visitors, the match ended 2–1.

After Robbie Keane, Niall Quinn, and Damien Duff's death in a 3–1 loss to Liverpool on April 5, he became the fourth Irish player to score 50 Premier League goals.

Long scored his first goal in Premier League history against Watford on April 23, 2019, clocking in at 7.69 seconds after kick off. When Ledley King scored in ten seconds against Bradford City in December 2000, the record was previously held.

Long had signed a two-year deal with Southampton, extending his club's stay until the 2021-22 season.

Long's deal came to an end on July 1st 2022, and Southampton announced that he would be leaving the club.

Long joined AFC Bournemouth on loan for the remainder of the 2020-2021 season on February 2nd, 2021. He made his debut for the Cherries five days later, by being named in the starting lineup for a 3–2 home league victory over Birmingham City. In a 2–1 loss at Queens Park Rangers on February 20, 2021, he scored his first goal for Bournemouth.

Long returned to Reading on July 13, 2022, after completing a one-year contract.

International career

Long's fort appearance for Reading in the 2005-06 season earned him four Republic of Ireland U19 caps. He earned his first senior cap for the Republic of Ireland in their 2–1 victory over San Marino on February 7th due to injuries to his Reading teammate Kevin Doyle and Sunderland's Stephen Elliott.

Long played both hurling and international football at Croke Park in 2007 and 2004, and he became the first person to play both hurling and international football at the Tipperary team for the All-Ireland Minor semi-finals in 2003 and 2004. Long scored his first international goal in a friendly 1–1 draw against Bolivia on May 26, 2007, and then a brace in Ireland's 4–0 victory over Denmark on August 22. For 2007, he was selected as the Football Association of Ireland Young Player of the Year.

Long was brought on early to substitute Kevin Doyle, who suffered in a UEFA Euro 2012 qualifier against Macedonia in Dublin. With a header in Ireland's next game against Uruguay, Long scored the first of Ireland's goals in a 2–3 loss. Long scored as the winner in a 1–0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on May 26, 2012. He appeared on UEFA Euro 2012, having come off the bench against Croatia and Italy.

Long scored his ninth goal for Ireland, a header over England at Wembley Stadium, a match that ended 1–1. On June 2, 2013, Ireland defeated Georgia for the first time, beating Ireland 4–0. Long scored his 11th goal for his country in a 2–1 loss to Serbia on March 5, 2014. Long came off the bench to score a last-minute equalizer against Poland in a 2016 Euro qualifier. Long came off the bench in another 2016 Euro qualifier against reigning world champions Germany in another important German qualifier in Aviva Stadium on October 8.

Long Test Positive for COVID-19 in Faro, Portugal, ahead of a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Portugal, ruled him out of the game.

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