Damien Duff, known for his endeavour to reclaim a league title for Tolka Park, was initially signed on by the Shamrock Rovers. It was in 2015’s summer that towards the end of his playing career, the two-time Premier League victor left Melbourne City in Australia to join Rovers.
This marked the onset of the Dublin native’s robust association with the Hoops – culminating in him eventually taking on the mantle of under-15s manager and becoming part of Stephen Bradley’s auxiliary crew. Duff’s stint at Rovers not only marked the conclusion of his playing tenure, but also set the stage for his inauguration into the world of coaching. Now he stands on the edge of his first league-winning manager title, needing just one win.
Interestingly, the only team with the capacity to rob him of this feather in his cap are Rovers themselves. Derry’s championship race has fizzled out without them being able to maintain a steady run in League of Ireland’s most unpredictable final lap. Despite Derry’s potential to pull Shelbourne down from the top spot on the leader board this Friday night, their hopes of clinching the title are dashed – leaving only Shels or Rovers; Duff or Bradley in contention.
Duff had an association with Rovers that lasted from July 2015 till his shift to a coaching role at Celtic in January 2019. At 36, he entered into an 18-month term contract with the Rovers in summer 2015. Recalling that phase, Duff acknowledged, “I’ve always aspired to return and play in Ireland. Not only have I been privileged to do so, but I have also been part of the most acclaimed club in the country. I’m as thrilled about this transition as any in my career.”
However, this chapter proved testing for him. Plagued by relentless injuries, the erstwhile dynamo of Blackburn, Chelsea, Newcastle and Fulham only managed to play nine league matches for the Rovers. He had his first match as a late substitute during a 3-0 triumph over Cork City in August 2015, and featured last in October, exiting the field towards the end of a 5-3 win against Drogheda United. Owing to injury hampering his participation, Duff decided to hang up his boots that December.
“After an in-depth consideration, he declared the conclusion of his professional career in football. The athlete expressed his heart’s desire to push forward, but acknowledged that his physical limits were surpassing his will. He emphasised how he’d lived a typical boy’s fantasy, realising his fortune in this regard.
Despite having drawn the curtain on his playing career, he affirmed his plans to pursue his coaching qualifications with an aspiration to remain an integral part of football for years to follow. The Rovers promptly ensured he remained part of them. As soon as Pat Fenlon was superseded by Bradley as the team’s skipper, Duff aligned with the reformed management, teaming up with Glenn Cronin and Stephen McPhail to provide coaching services.
In addition to working with junior players, Duff secured the position of the club manager for the initial League of Ireland under-15 team by February 2017. Whilst he eagerly nestled into the role, his unconventional commencement of training at 6 am was met with mixed responses.
He described the reception to his early morning sessions as cavemen-like, acknowledging the grumbles that aroused from puncturing their sleep. Regardless of that backlash, Duff remained committed towards developing players, exploiting every opportunity to hone their skills, regardless of the aftermath.
Despite what might have been perceived as his authoritarian approach to morning drills, the journey culminated in being a win-win situation for all parties – the club, Duff himself, and especially for the budding players. The squad recorded a resounding victory of 9-0 against Longford Town in April 2018.
That day’s Shamrock Rovers lineup included individual talents like Sinclair Armstrong, who is currently affiliated with Bristol City, along with others. Among those was Evan Caffrey, another notable player to have learnt under Duff.
Armstrong shared his memories about being coached under Duff, initially finding his approach slightly mad for dragging 15-year-old kids to train early morning, yet still appreciated his tenure with Duff, acknowledging the many lessons he had learnt.”
There comes a point in your youth, perhaps around 14 or 15 years old, where your confidence might get the better of you. I remember thinking to myself, ‘I must be rather knowledgeable about football,’ until I crossed paths with Damien Duff. It was during our stint at Shamrock Rovers under-15s that I realised I had much to learn about the sport.
Duff stayed with the Rovers until January 2019, when an irresistible opportunity came along to serve as assistant reserve team manager at Celtic. It wasn’t long before he climbed up to the role of first-team coach under Neil Lennon, but he returned to Ireland in summer 2020 for family considerations.
Subsequently, Duff took up a position within Stephen Kenny’s regime at Ireland and in June, he was bestowed with the role of under-17 manager at Shelbourne, a role that would eventually lead him to the top job at Tolka Park.
Despite Duff’s illustrious career in football, one of Ireland’s most distinguished players insists that winning a league title as Shelbourne manager would surpass all his former achievements in the sport.
He said, “That would be the zenith. I have a collection of cherished memories over the years, from clinching trophies to playing impressive games and earning 100 caps for Ireland. But this achievement, it would be the absolute zenith.”
If we regard Duff’s time at Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght as laying the first stones, then the subsequent period spent at Shelbourne has been about fostering something unique at Tolka Park.
What’s left to see is which team will complete the task on the upcoming Friday night.