Shane Long has revealed that he initially thought Sadio Mane was “horrendous” when he first joined Southampton in 2014, despite the Senegalese winger’s immense potential.
Mane’s football journey began in the youth ranks of Generation Foot before he signed his first professional contract with French club Metz in 2011. His standout performances at Metz earned him a move to Red Bull Salzburg in 2012, where he impressed with 45 goals and 32 assists in 87 appearances, attracting the attention of bigger clubs.
Southampton secured his signature in a £10 million deal, and while fans were excited by the new arrival, Long, his then-teammate at Southampton, wasn’t immediately convinced. Speaking on Ben Foster’s Fozcast, Long admitted: “When Sadio first came with the first team, he was horrendous.”
He clarified, “Obviously, he wasn’t horrendous, I take that back. But he had these moments where you thought ‘ooh, he’s got something here.’ You used to kick him and hurt yourself, he had that strength about him.” Long recalled that while Mane was capable of incredible runs, his finishing was inconsistent, often sending the ball out of play or into the stands.
However, it was under the management of Ronald Koeman that Mane’s raw talent began to shine. Long credited the Dutch coach for transforming Mane’s game, helping him develop into one of the Premier League’s top players. “Koeman managed to coach him and train him, and he just hit this run of form which made you think this guy could go to the very top,” Long said.
Although Southampton did not win any major trophies during Koeman’s tenure, Long emphasized the pivotal role the coach played in unlocking Mane’s potential. After scoring 25 goals in 75 appearances for the Saints, Mane earned a £34 million move to Liverpool in 2016, where he quickly established himself as a key figure under Jurgen Klopp.
At Liverpool, Mane became a game-changer, helping the team secure a historic Premier League title in the 2019/20 season, a Champions League win in 2018/19, and multiple domestic cups. He scored 120 goals and provided 42 assists in 269 appearances at Anfield, cementing his place as one of the Premier League’s best.
In 2022, Mane took on a new challenge by joining Bayern Munich for £35 million, although his performances in the Bundesliga were somewhat subdued, with just 12 goals in 38 appearances. Despite this, Bayern claimed the Bundesliga title and the DFB Pokal in the 2022/23 season.
Mane’s career took another turn when he moved to Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr in 2023 for a reported £24 million, where he now plays alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. In Riyadh, Mane has thrived, scoring 24 goals in 64 matches and helping the team secure the Arab Club Champions Cup. Currently, Al-Nassr sit third in the Saudi Pro League, with Mane contributing three goals in 10 matches this season.
Reflecting on his early days at Southampton, Long’s comments offer a glimpse into the extraordinary development of one of football’s most exciting talents, whose rise to stardom has been nothing short of remarkable.
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