It’s been announced today that former Celtic coach Damien Duff has taken over the managerial reins at League of Ireland side Shelbourne. The former Ireland international left his role at Celtic last June in order to spend more time with his family.
Now, over a year since his spell with the Hoops, the former Chelsea man will take the plunge into management for the very first time back in his home country. Duff makes the step-up from the Under-17s side which he has coached since leaving Celtic last year, previously balancing that job along with being assistant to Stephen Kenny for the Ireland national team.
A statement on shelbournefc.ie confirmed the appointment.
“Shelbourne Football Club is delighted to announce the hugely significant appointment of former Republic of Ireland international Damien Duff as Men’s first team head coach.
“The former Chelsea FC, Newcastle United FC, Fulham FC and Blackburn Rovers FC winger takes over our SSE Airtricity League Premier Division team having most recently coached within the Shelbourne FC Academy.
“The two-time English Premier League winner will begin the role with immediate effect as the club prepares for the return of Premier Division football to Tolka Park in 2022.
“Having played 100 times for the Republic of Ireland as well as being a first team coach at Celtic FC and assistant coach for the Republic of Ireland senior team, Damien brings the highest pedigree to Shelbourne FC.
“With our Men’s U-17 Men’s National League team having a successful season under his management, Damien has already helped progress young players to our First Team showing the same vision, passion for youth development and ambition our Club has planned”
Since stepping down from his position in Stephen Kenny’s Ireland set-up in January this year – the 100-time capped international worked full-time with Shelbourne’s development squad. Now though Duff takes charge of the senior side for a first top flight season since relegation in 2013.
He said: “I’m delighted to take up the first team manager’s position at Shelbourne. Having coached and managed our U17 National league team and been around the club, I can see the plans and ambition in place here and am excited to begin a new chapter of Shelbourne’s 126 year history.
“I’m extremely passionate about youth development in Ireland and about Irish football in general and see this as a great opportunity to help build something that both the club, its fans and myself can be proud of.
“With the club now in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division, and the foundations being put in place by the board and its directors, I can’t wait to start.”
Duff was an extremely well regarded member of the coaching staff while at Celtic, with players often expressing how much they enjoyed working with him.
In an interview with the Celticfc website, shortly after leaving Celtic he said “The role I had at Celtic was my dream job, I’m absolutely gutted, devastated to be leaving, especially at this time, when we’re going for 10.
“It was absolutely a family decision. There is no job in the world that would have taken me away from the role I was in. I’d love to be a brilliant coach one day, but I think it’s more important at the minute that I’m just a brilliant dad, I guess.
“For the first while I was away, my kids were like, ‘Daddy, Daddy, stay for nine and 10’, but as time went by, it was more, ‘Daddy, Daddy, when are you coming home?’ Celtic is one big family, but my family is here as well.
“It was the best year-and-a-half of my sporting life, and I include my football career in that. It was an absolute dream with amazing people. I’m gutted, but my kids need me, which is always the most important thing to any dad.”
I’m sure I speak for many Celtic fans when I wish him all the best in his time back home with Shelbourne FC, hopefully it will be hugely successful.
Conall McGinty
I think we missed him as much as he missed us