Former Celtic coach Damien Duff has made headlines in Irish football by guiding Shelbourne to their first League of Ireland Premier Division title in 17 years. Duff, who was part of Celtic’s coaching staff under Neil Lennon, achieved a remarkable feat in his managerial career as Shelbourne clinched the title with a late 1-0 victory over Derry City at the Brandywell.
The Dublin-based club hadn’t lifted the league trophy since 2006, but under Duff’s leadership, they finally broke that drought, overtaking a dominant Shamrock Rovers side that had been champions for the past four seasons. It was a season-long title race that came down to the wire, with Shelbourne delivering a thrilling finale to take the top spot and secure their place in next season’s Champions League qualifiers.
Duff, a fan favourite during his time as Celtic’s first-team coach, left Paradise in 2020, but he has since established himself as one of the most promising young managers in Ireland. The former Republic of Ireland international joined Shelbourne in 2021 and has swiftly transformed them into a title-winning side, instilling the same fighting spirit and resilience that he showed both as a player and as part of the Celtic backroom staff.
For Celtic fans, it’s heartening to see Duff making waves in management. Known for his no-nonsense style and passion, he’s managed to elevate Shelbourne from mid-table contenders to champions, leading a relatively young squad through a gruelling campaign. His success story may also be of interest to those who remember him coaching a Celtic team that won both the league and Scottish Cup in 2019-20, a season curtailed due to COVID-19.
In a tight contest for the title, Harry Wood’s 85th-minute strike was enough to crown Duff’s team champions, a goal that will be celebrated in Shelbourne’s history books for years to come. With the title secured, Duff has firmly established his managerial credentials, and who knows, his achievements at Shelbourne could be a stepping stone for a return to Scotland one day.
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