Shane Patrick Long 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. |
