Damien Duff: Shelbourne's charismatic boss leading their rise

It’s November 2021, and former Irish international Damien Duff anxiously adjusts his shirt cuffs next to Sporting and Technical Director, Alan Caffrey, the debutant awaiting his turn to speak at his first Shelbourne press conference as senior manager of The Reds.

Despite having played on the world stage for two decades, thereafter refining his coaching craft with Scottish giants Celtic and Stephen Kenny’s Ireland, along with achieving success domestically coaching underage teams at both Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne, Duff looks uncomfortable in the spotlight.

 The then-42-year-olds Ballyboden brogue wavers as he tugs at his navy tie and addresses the opening and deceptively benign question of ‘Why now?’ from RTE veteran soccer correspondent, Tony O’Donoghue

“But why did you say ‘No’ initially?” O’Donoghue challenge’s as soon as Duff has paused to take a breath.

The Tolka board shifts in their seats as the question echoes unforgivingly around the room.

Duff falters initially in his attempts to respond, and then seems to make a conscious decision to let fly.

“It’s totally out of the comfort zone stuff,” Duff shrugs, disarming the vying reporter with his admission. “And, eh, am I scared? Absolutely, yeah. Do I feel uncomfortable? Absolutely.

"But I’ve been preaching to kids since day one about showing personality, about showing courage... And for me to say ‘No’ on Friday, I was lacking courage, I was lacking personality.

"The board asked me to reconsider, and I did, and that was just soul searching. But like I said, I can’t coach, whether it be a man, woman, or child, and then turn it down. So that’s why I’m here.”

Forget Duffer's international achievements on the right flank for our country; it was this first glimpse of what has now become his trademark raw and unfiltered character that won the hearts and minds of not only the Tolka faithful, but League of Ireland fans across the island of Eire.

In all the years I have followed football, I have never heard an incoming manager speak as candidly as Damien Duff at that press conference (and in the years since).

The Rathfarnham native’s willingness to publicly acknowledge the gaps in his managerial acumen from a League of Ireland perspective, with not only his employers and an already sceptical room of reporters but the expectant fans watching, was a gamble - a brave one at that.

In response to a thinly veiled accusation by one reporter that he lacked longevity and was restless in previous roles to the detriment of the players he left behind, Duff's vocal chords reverberated with passion.

“Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve dedicated my life to them,” he stated convincingly. “I dedicate my life to players. I’m still in touch with Celtic players, still in touch with Shamrock Rovers U15s players... for help... for guidance on and off the pitch.

"I’m here [for them] till the day I die. If I bump into them in the street in twenty years, it’s going to be the same with the senior players.”

The lesson from Duff's ‘take me as you find me’ mantra? There is no shame in acknowledging our weaknesses, as we equally put forth our strengths.

Fans (and people in general) will mistrust the slick salesman who believes they are the sole answer to a club struggling to find its way back to former glory.

Damien Duff is their antithesis.

From day dot, The Reds gaffer communicated to both management and fans alike that he was at Tolka Park to “build something," to awaken a “sleeping giant.” Yet he prophesied no false promises, much to the appreciation of those in Dublin 3.

“I know Shels will lose an awful lot of games next season,” he stated plainly in the days following his appointment. “I’m not the best manager in the league. I've got an awful lot to prove.

"I’ll never change; I’m energetic and emotional. I don’t try to be anything that I’m not. I want to be involved in Irish football. I’m not going anywhere anytime soon, so Ireland’s stuck with me.”

Despite experiencing two decades constrained with financial debt and spells in the First Division, the man who was endearingly modest in his debut press conference as Shelbourne senior manager has whipped up a tornado of momentum on foot of Shels Premier Division promotion under Ian Morris in 2021 - the clubs fourth-place finish, appearance in an FAI Cup final, and a shot at European football the most notable achievements to date.

Yet Duff’s most admirable quality is his genuine grá for Irish football and his subsequent demands that centre around the quality of, and need for investment in, fit for purpose infrastructure that both men and women, young and old, from the academies right up to the Premier Division, can avail of.

Unhampered by affiliation and now in his third season at the helm of the senior team, the forty four year old had no difficulty in publicly questioning the Irish Government’s decision to invest in the redevelopment of Ulster’s GAA’s Casement Park for the princely sum of €50 million, in what some believe is a purely cosmetic and wasteful effort to assist in the FAI’s joint bid to host Euro 2028 with Northern Ireland, England, Wales, and Scotland.

“50 million,” Duff mused, scratching his stubble.  “How many games will it host? Four? Great… I know people are saying I’m battering the FAI again. Maybe for a lot of people in the FAI, but not all; it’s a job for them. This isn’t a job to me. It’s my passion. It’s your passion and why you go to league matches for so long.”

“That’s what I was put on this earth for,” he continued. “Football, football, football... if I don’t have the league right now, I don’t have focus in my life. If you don’t have focus in your life, life ain’t good.”

Duff even went so far as to take an LOITV reporter to task when he laughed in amusement at Duff’s opinion that the league was the greatest in the world, mumbling, “I wouldn’t go that far.”

“I would go that far,” Duff insisted, unblinking. “I’ve travelled the world; I’ve played in quite a few leagues... I’ve coached over in Scotland... This is the greatest league in the world, and the sooner we get people onboard and jumping on the bandwagon and actually helping the league, it’ll be even greater than it is now.”

When asked by club media to sum up his relationship with Shelbourne, Duff reflected, "Well, listen, it’s my club. It’s the perfect fit. It’s the only club I want to manage here.

"It was always my favourite ground as a kid, playing under Brian Kerr…special days coming to Tolka Park, the number one place.”

In a post-match interview following Shelbourne's victory over Waterford to reach the 2022 FAI Cup final, Duff was confronted by the reporter who fired that first curveball.

“But listen, we’ve won; we shouldn’t be here.” A much more self-assured Duff reminded Tony O’Donoghue. “‘Little old Shels, as people call us, Everyone hates us, I think! But hey, we’re in the final, and it doesn’t get any better.”

Perhaps the most significant interview I associate with Damien Duff and Shelbourne is one filmed in the disappointing aftermath of the club's 4-0 defeat to Derry City in the Cup final.

“Speaking as a fan,” the interviewer began, “and on behalf of myself and others, thank you for what you and the staff have done. You’ve brought 8,000 Shels fans to Lansdowne Road. You’ve given us a chance to dream again…”

 Out of sight, the supporter trailed off, overcome with emotion.

Hearing such a touching message of appreciation, Duff was not too far behind.

"Listen, I can see you’re getting emotional, so I’ll take over.” He interjected, his eyes shining. “I dream; I want to get to Europe. I want to win silverware.

"And I hope the club is doing that soon, with or without me. I’d like to think we’re continuously building foundations so that can happen. The foundations are there to build and grow and take Shelbourne back to the top.”

Having recently signed a multi-year contract extension, Shelbournes attempts to catch Shamrock Rovers will not be without Duff, much to the delight (and palpable relief) of fans.

And while Shelbourne face a steep and challenging road to get near the success of their former Ringsend rivals - four-in-a row Champions Shamrock Rovers, a historic and spirited 2-1 victory over The Hoops on Friday night has undoubtedly instilled belief in the suburbs of Drumcondra.

It must feel really good. Right? Well..kind of.

“Eh, it did from about 9:55 to five past ten,” Duff tells the club media, flashing a wry smile. “You don’t get extra points for beating Rovers, the best team in the country…it’s a good team to be compared to but we are absolutely not getting carried away.

"We’ve so much respect for that team. They are the best team in the country and we’ve a long long way to get anywhere near them.”

You get the sense that there’s no better man to lead the chase, nor no better time for the neutral.

John O’Shea appointed interim Republic of Ireland manager https://t.co/PhTwGtXBQtpic.twitter.com/GTT5WZ6iXT

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) February 29, 2024