Former Ireland striker Shane Long has admitted that he is considering hanging up his professional football boots for good.
Long (37) and his current club side, Reading, have just been relegated from the English Championship, and his current deal with the club runs out at the end of the season.
The former Southampton forward is not entirely sure if he will continue to play football next season after Reading's relegation to League One.
"I’m going to speak to my family, but in my head, I think enough is enough. I’m 37 next January. We’ll see," Long said in an interview with BBC Radio Berkshire this week.
"I’m going to spend time with my family over the summer and weigh up the pros and cons after that. I feel good; my body does feel good, but I suppose the older you get, the more it’s about recovery and getting your body going again."
Former Ireland striker Shane Long says he’s considering retirement after finishing a difficult season with a Reading side who were relegated from the Championship @fitzmaidan https://t.co/5oFibvwKJg
— Independent Sport (@IndoSport) May 16, 2023
"When you’re playing Saturday-Tuesday- Saturday-Tuesday, it takes its toll.
"I don’t want to come back for one more year and just be injured. I’ll see how I feel in the summer. If the club can buy in players and have a decent squad next year, then brilliant, but if they’re struggling to get numbers in the door and they need more help, then I’m always a phone call away.
Long transferred from Cork City to Reading in 2005 and formed a strong Premier League career at a number of other clubs.
During his time in England, the Tipperary native scored 56 times in 344 Premier League appearances for Reading, West Brom, Hull City, and Southampton.
He also scored 17 goals during his 88 caps for the Republic of Ireland and is best remembered for his goal against Germany in 2015.
