Stephen Kenny

The striker claims he knew the "Writing was on the wall" for his Ireland career during the early days of Stephen Kenny's reign.

So I knew then that the writing was on the wall." 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. "So I gave a speech and I held up the shirt, and on the back it was number 9. In Long's eyes, the hierarchy of a player in the squad was reflected in their shirt numbers. “When it’s Ireland and it’s your country you don’t want one man to ruin that for you. "That was a manager making a statement. And if it was at club level I would have left, that would have been me gone. 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. 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. “Once Kevin [Doyle] had left international football and gone to America, I was given the number nine shirt. "So Seamus Coleman steps up, I think he had Dara O'Shea and gives him the No.

Shane Long has told of his embarassment at losing his Ireland squad number under Stephen Kenny - a moment he ranks as one of the low points in his career.

'When Robbie Keane retired, Robbie Brady was in the squad for a long, long time, he was desperate for No. 'So I gave a speech and I held up the shirt, and on the back it was number 9. 'That was a manager making a statement. Randolph stepped up, I think it was Caoimhin Kelleher he gave the jersey to, another high number.' 'Once Kevin [Doyle] had left international football and gone to America, I was given the number nine shirt. 'So Seamus Coleman steps up, I think he had Dara O'Shea and gives him the No.

Shane Long was not happy after he was asked to literally hand over the number nine jersey to Adam Idah early in Stephen Kenny's Ireland tenure.

So I knew then that the writing was on the wall... When Robbie Keane retired, Robbie Brady was in the squad for a long, long time, he was desperate for No. And after Kevin (Doyle) had gone to America and left international football I was given the number nine shirt. As it turns out, he knew early in the new manager's tenure that he was going to be phased out. In an attempt to welcome new players into the squad, Kenny was keen to introduce a new tradition where senior squad members would ceremonially present jerseys to new additions. It was a long-term view that needed to be taken, although it appears that the way it was carried out did not necessarily go down well with all of those involved.

Shane Long has said he knew he wouldn't have a long-term Republic of Ireland future under Stephen Kenny after he was asked to unwittingly pass on his No 9 ...

So I knew then that the writing was on the wall." "So I gave a speech and I held up the shirt, and on the back it was No 9. And if it was at club level I would have left, that would have been me gone. 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. "Once Kevin [Doyle] had left international football and gone to America, I was given the No 9 shirt. "It was late in my Ireland career," the 36-year-old said.

Shane Long has said that Stephen Kenny subjected him to an 'embarrassing and degrading' moment in a Republic of Ireland camp.

So I knew then that the writing was on the wall." "So then he got the number 10 and wore that to the Euros. "I went straight to the kit man and asked him who picks the numbers. The Tipperary native that he didn't want to let 'one man' prevent him from playing for the national team. He called the experience "embarrassing and degrading." "Once Kevin (Doyle) had left international football and gone to America, I was given the number nine shirt. That was a manager making a statement." "Randolph stepped up, I think it was Caoimhin Kelleher he gave the jersey to, another high number. "So, obviously, when you come into the ranks you get a high number in the Ireland squad. 10," Long said. You kind of earned your number in the squad. [Long](https://cms.sportsjoe.ie/football/shane-long-southampton-265954) felt he had earned the prestigious squad number through his years of service.