Shane Long has slammed Ireland manager Stephen Kenny for "embarrassing and degrading" him during the early days of his managerial reign.
Appearing on his wife Kayleagh's podcast (‘Kay And Ash, Share Your Voice’ Podcast), Long recounted a tale from early in the Kenny era where veteran members of the squad were asked to present new Ireland players with their first jerseys.
Initially on board with the idea, Long was furious when he realised that Norwich City star Adam Idah was awarded the number nine shirt ahead of his first International cap, a low moment in his career that Long says "stands out."
READ MORE: Ireland supporters loved Evan Ferguson's reaction to Amhrán na bhFiann before France game
"It was late in my Ireland career. So obviously when you come into the ranks you get a high number in the Ireland squad. I remember Kevin Doyle was No. 9, Richie Dunne was No. 5, Robbie Keane was No. 9. Going back over the years it was Gary Kelly No. 2, Ian Harte No. 3. You kind of earned your number in the squad,” Long told the podcast.
“Once Kevin [Doyle] had left international football and gone to America, I was given the number nine shirt. I was so proud to have that number, and I had it for years.
"Stephen Kenny called me into the squad. He called me, Seamus Coleman and Darren Randolph, he wanted to start a new tradition of welcoming new players, give them their first Ireland jersey. I had a little speech saying how proud I was to make my first appearance, just introducing them to the team, which I thought was a great idea.
"So Seamus Coleman steps up, I think he had Dara O'Shea and gives him the No. 23 jersey. Randolph stepped up, I think it was Caoimhin Kelleher he gave the jersey to, another high number. And then I stepped up and it was Adam Idah, and I was delighted because obviously he's Cork city, he's a bit of a culchie like myself, a young guy, big potential.
"So I gave a speech and I held up the shirt, and on the back it was number 9. I remember just handing that jersey over and I just wanted to storm out of that room. And if it was at club level I would have left, that would have been me gone. I didn’t want to take away from Adam.
"That was a manager making a statement. I rang Kayleigh, she’s my sounding board and she was raging as well. Adam hadn't made an appearance for Ireland, he hadn't earned the shirt.”
In Long's eyes, the hierarchy of a player in the squad was reflected in their shirt numbers. The lower the number, the more valued a member you were in the squad.
“When Robbie Keane retired, Robbie Brady was in the squad for a long, long time, he was desperate for No. 10, so then he got the No. 10 and wore that to the Euros. It was just the traditional way, you had to earn that number in the squad, to have it taken away and handed over like that was embarrassing and degrading,” Long said.
"I spent so many years trying to earn that number. That was one of the lowest. I didn’t want to take away from Adam, it was a big moment for him. I went straight to the kit man and asked him who picks the numbers, and he said the gaffer. So I knew then that the writing was on the wall."
Long went on to win seven International caps under Stephen Kenny, the most recent of which came in June 2021. When asked why he kept making himself available for selection under Kenny, Long revealed that he didn't want to walk away from his International career.
“When it’s Ireland and it’s your country you don’t want one man to ruin that for you. I wanted to get every cap I could for my country and enjoy every minute on that pitch, that one was a tough one to swallow,” Long said.
READ NEXT:
Conor McGregor responds to Carl Froch's claims that he could beat the Dubliner in an MMA fight
Katie McCabe thanks fans for support as she awaits news on injury
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts
