Damien Duff leaves Shelbourne as club ‘regretfully' confirms manager's departure
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Premier Division champions hail 'transformational impact' of former Ireland international as Joey O'Brien takes managerial reins on interim basis
Damien Duff has left his role as manager of Shelbourne, the club has confirmed.
A lengthy statement released by the reigning League of Ireland Premier Division champions also revealed that assistant manager Joey O'Brien and the rest of the Reds' backroom staff will take charge of tomorrow's League of Ireland Premier Division clash away to Waterford FC.
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Sunday World
42 minutes ago
- Sunday World
Damien Duff quits as Shelbourne boss and sends shockwaves through League of Ireland
duff bombshell | The Ireland legend decided he could offer no more to the side who claimed the Premier Division title last season. Duff could not be convinced to rethink his decision to leave the club. Photo: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile The statement released by the reigning League of Ireland Premier Division champions on Sunday confirmed the former Ireland and Chelsea star who led Shels to the title last season has decided he could offer no more to the team after a 1-0 defeat against Derry City on Friday night. 'Shelbourne FC regretfully wishes to announce the departure of Damien Duff as first team manager,' read the club statement. 'Damien informed the club this morning that, after much thought, he has made the decision to resign. He shared the news with the players earlier today. 'While all at Shelbourne FC are deeply saddened by Damien's decision, we fully respect that he feels this is the right choice for him at this time. Duff could not be convinced to rethink his decision to leave the club. Photo: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile News in 90 Seconds - June 22nd 'During his four extraordinary years at Tolka Park, Damien transformed Shelbourne Football Club both on and off the pitch. 'Appointed in November 2021, he took over a newly promoted side and rebuilt it from the ground up. Duff guided Shels to a seventh-place finish and a first FAI Cup Final appearance since 2011 in that debut season. The following year, in 2023, a fourth-place finish brought the Reds back to European competition for the first time in 18 years. 'In 2024, Duff led the Reds to one of the greatest triumphs in the club's 130-year history, clinching the League of Ireland Premier Division title, our first since 2006. On the final day we went to Derry, where a 1-0 win at the Brandywell secured the title in dramatic fashion, marking Shels return to the summit of Irish football. 'The club wishes Damien and his family every happiness and success in the future. His impact on Shelbourne FC was transformational. He will always be one of our own, and we are eternally grateful for the indelible mark he has left on our club. 'Joey O'Brien and the coaching staff will take charge for tomorrow's trip to the RSC to face Waterford and will prepare the team for Friday's away fixture against Galway United.' Duff's decision to step down was a shock, despite his scathing criticism of team following the defeat against Derry. 'I prepared for the game like I was a professional footballer,' said Duff on Friday night. 'My wife probably cursed me at times. Three-hour siesta, ate really well, focused my mind. I would like to really, really know how many of my players prepared like me or as well as me, which is damning. 'There was a severe lack of energy, real flatness, severe lack of quality and you are going to get nowhere. I don't accept that that's our third game in a week. Never have, never will until the day I die. If you are an amazing pro you bounce into the night. Even if you are a bit tired, a bit flat, drag yourself along, give yourself a talking to. 'That's where you have to be an amazing pro, an elite pro, a pro that belongs in the Champions League which are strange words for me to say at the minute. 'Did I smell it on Thursday? Of course! It (training) was awful. It all comes from within, your energy, your motivation, how good a professional you are. 'I don't mind saying it again, because it is absolutely true. It's my energy that has driven the players for four years. I've offered them the dressing room for them to lead this show, this steam train. They've never really done it. Again, tonight, it's me shouting and screaming. Joe (O'Brien – assistant) shouting and screaming. We had a real energy because we were highly motivated men, prepared well and I didn't feel that spark, that energy off the players. 'You're all probably saying 'here he goes again'. I'm trying to drag the team, trying to wake them up, but they never woke up. 'For three years, we've been an incredibly motivated team. If you had a bad night it was a given that you get a reaction. As I told the lads upstairs, I don't know (if there will be one in Waterford on Monday). You never know with us anymore, which is damning. It's damning on me because I'm the manager. 'To become champions again, you have to be hungrier than last year, you have to work harder than last year, and again if you ask that question to our guys, I'm not sure how many would say yes, I smelled these type of issues in pre season. 'I thought I would come back and the dressing room would drive itself, because there's big characters, there's champions in there. It didn't. It's not driven by the players. It's driven by me. And like I said to Darren (Cleary – press officer), you can grab every player down here now and ask the same question: 'Is it Duffer that drives everything?' 'It is, and it gets tiring, but most importantly, it gets frustrating. Yeah, I'm there to help and coach and pick the best teams. I don't think it's the manager that should drive a dressing room that still is.'
Irish Times
2 hours ago
- Irish Times
A bolt from the blue for Shelbourne and League of Ireland as Duff leaves post
Damien Duff rarely fails to surprise, often providing as much entertainment with his musings on life and football, his touchline capers and feuds with rival managers as he did during his 100-cap Republic of Ireland career. But Sunday's news that he had decided to quit his job as Shelbourne manager was a bolt from the blue, even if he had been a picture of furious frustration after his side's 1-0 defeat by Derry City on Friday night. Duff confirmed to RTÉ that he had resigned on Sunday morning, ending his three-and-a-half year spell as the club's manager, Shelbourne later issuing a statement 'regretfully' announcing his departure. 'While all at Shelbourne FC are deeply saddened by Damien's decision, we fully respect that he feels this is the right choice for him at this time,' they said, describing his impact on the club as 'transformational'. 'He will always be one of our own, and we are eternally grateful for the indelible mark he has left on our club.' Shelbourne co-owner Neil Doyle also paid tribute to the 46-year-old, both for what he did for the club and the league as a whole. READ MORE It was Duff's first managerial role in football after stints as coach or assistant manager with the Irish under-15 and then senior squad, and with Shamrock Rovers and Celtic. The highlight, of course, came last November when he led Shels to their first league title since 2006 . But it was the nature of the defence of that title that rendered him exasperated, and clearly deciding that he'd had enough. The defeat to Derry left his side sixth in the table, a mountainous 15 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers. He lashed out at his players after the game, questioning their motivation and professionalism. 'I prepared for the game like I was a professional footballer - I would really, really like to know how many of my players prepared as well as me.' 'It's my energy that has driven the players for four years,' he said. 'I've offered them the dressing room for them to lead this show. They've never really done it. I'm trying to drag them, trying to wake them up, but they never woke up.' Shels' head coach Damien Duff dejected after losing to Derry City. Photograph: Ryan Byrne/Inpho 'To become champions again, you have to be hungrier than last year, you have to work harder than last year - I'm not sure how many would say that they've done that.' And the thing about Duff is that you'd suspect he could forgive anything, other than a lack of hunger and professionalism. Once he felt he could no longer extract either of those qualities from his players, that was time for him to bid adieu. He'll leave a hell of a hole in the League of Ireland, though, not least because of his passion for it and the raised profile he helped give it. And he was never shy about standing up for it. 'This league was called the problem child for many, many years,' he said, 'but believe you me, the biggest problem child is the FAI.' It's unlikely, then, that he'll choose Abbotstown as his next place of work. So where next? It was only in April that he dismissed any notion of leaving Ireland to take up another managerial offer, Bolton said to have been the latest club to want him as their gaffer. 'I am here because they are here,' he said of his family and their life in Wicklow, 'and I want to be here. I don't picture myself anywhere else but Ireland.' Look away now, Shels fans: could he be up for taking over at another club in the league some time soon? We'll see. But one thing's for sure, you wouldn't want him staying out of the game for too long. Joey O'Brien, meanwhile, will take charge of Shelbourne for Monday night's league game away to Waterford, and could well still be in position for their Champions League qualifying games against Linfield on July 9th and 16th. 'What comes on Monday, who knows,' Duff said after the Derry game. Time, as it's proved, to think about his next step in football.
The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
Damien Duff resigns as Shelbourne FC manager
DAMIEN DUFF HAS quit as manager of Shelbourne. The 2024-league winning boss informed the players of his decision this morning. Advertisement It comes after Friday's 1-0 defeat at home to Derry City, after which he questioned the level of professionalism from his squad. Shels are currently sixth, 15 points adrift of league leaders Shamrock Rovers. RTÉ Sport has also reported that Duff confirmed his resignation today. Written by David Sneyd and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
