Shane Long

Shane Long built a remarkable career not on technical extravagance, but on an engine that never quit and a leap that defied his frame. The Tipperary native's path to professional football was unconventional, starring in Gaelic football before committing to soccer with Cork City. His raw potential was obvious, and a move to Reading unlocked it. In England, Long became the embodiment of a certain type of striker: perpetually in motion, physically fearless, and a master of the knockdown. His best seasons came at West Bromwich Albion and Southampton, where his pressing from the front became a tactical weapon and his goals often decisive. He etched his name into history in 2021, scoring the fastest goal ever in Premier League history—just 7.69 seconds for Southampton against Watford—a moment of explosive acceleration that perfectly captured his style. For the Republic of Ireland, he was a warrior, his relentless running and crucial goals, including a famous winner against Germany in 2015, making him a national team mainstay for over a decade.