Linfield are handed a major Euro boost as Damien Duff calls quits as Shelbourne boss

Belfast Telegraph

23-06-2025

The struggling League of Ireland Premier Division side have confirmed the former Republic of Ireland player's exit.
Announcing the news in a statement, Shelbourne said that Duff's assistant Joey O'Brien and the rest of the staff will take charge for Monday night's trip to face Waterford and prepare the team for Friday's clash away to Galway United.
The former Chelsea and Fulham winger guided Shelbourne to a first League title in 18 years in 2024 but, having won seven of their opening 22 games in the 2025 term, Friday's 1-0 defeat to Derry City left the champions 15 points off leaders Shamrock Rovers as Duff slaughtered his players in the wake of that Tolka Park defeat.
The club's underwhelming form, combined with Duff's departure, will inject fresh belief in a Linfield side believing they will face a wounded animal.
Shelbourne have been drawn against the Premiership winners in the First Round of Champions League qualifying, with the ties scheduled for July 9 at Tolka Park and July 16 at Windsor Park.
The Drumcondra club face the Irish League champions in their first return to Europe's elite competition in nearly 20 years.
Linfield last faced Shels in the 2006 Setanta Cup group stages, winning 2-0 at Windsor Park before a goalless draw in the return fixture. One year earlier, David Jeffrey's side won the cross-border tournament by beating Shelbourne 2-0 in the Final at Tolka Park.
Shelbourne said that Duff informed them on Sunday morning that 'after much thought, he has made the decision to resign', also telling the players the news.
Shels say that while they are 'deeply saddened' by the decision, the club 'fully respects that he feels this is the right choice for him at this time' before going on to hail how Duff 'transformed Shelbourne on and off the pitch', detailing the club's recent title triumph and back-to-back European qualifications.
The statement released by the League of Ireland Premier Division champions read: 'Shelbourne FC regretfully wishes to announce the departure of Damien Duff as first-team manager.
'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.
'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-placed finish and a first FAI Cup Final appearance since 2011 in that debut season. The following year, in 2023, a fourth-placed 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.'
Shels co-owner Neil Doyle, speaking on behalf of the Board, said: 'There are no words that do justice to Damien's accomplishments at Shelbourne FC and what he has done for both the club and the League of Ireland. We look back with immense pride on his time here.
'As a club, we move forward with confidence, knowing that the foundations we have jointly built will underpin our continued success. Thank you, Damien, for everything.'
Republic of Ireland centurion Duff took over at Tolka Park in the winter of 2021 and, in his first season, led the club to a first FAI Cup Final in a decade where they lost to Derry City in the Lansdowne Road decider.
In 2023, Duff's second campaign at Shels saw him guide the club to fourth place, which proved enough to qualify for Europe after Bohemians lost that year's FAI Cup Final.
It was the Reds' first European qualification since 2006 as they went on to reach the Conference League Second Qualifying Round in 2024, beating Gibraltar's St Joseph's in the First Round before exiting to FC Zurich.
That return to the European stage also came during Shelbourne's stunning title-winning season of 2024. On the final day of the season in November, Harry Wood's winner away at Derry City with just five minutes remaining secured the win they needed to lift a first title in 18 years.
The club were 25/1 outsiders at the beginning of that season as the two-time Premier League winner labelled the title triumph as the 'pinnacle' of his professional career.
'If you put your mind to anything and you work hard and you dedicate your life to it, you can do anything you want. That's what my players have done,' he said.
But their title defence has proved difficult so far. After kicking off the 2025 campaign with back-to-back wins, Shels won just two of their next 12 games and have won seven from 22 to date.
Their home defeat to Shamrock Rovers saw them fall 12 points behind, and although they won at St Pat's the following Monday, their defeat to Derry four days later saw that gap extend to 15 points with Shels now sitting in sixth with 14 games remaining.
After Friday's home defeat to the Candystripes, Duff was deeply unhappy with his side's display, suggesting that his players remain too reliant on his own input instead of driving themselves.
'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 types 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.'