Damien Duff has opened up on the family call that made him quit Celtic- while hinting that he might one day return to the club.
In January 2019 he quit an Academy job with Shamrock Rovers to join Tommy McIntyre coaching Celtic’s reserve side, after just over a month he was promoted to work alongside caretaker boss Neil Lennon following the departure of Brendan Rodgers.
There seemed to be a real chemistry between Duff, Lennon and John Kennedy but in the summer of 2020 the former Chelsea and Newcastle announced that he was returning to his family in Dublin and a role within Stephen Kenny’s international set up.
That turned out to be another short-time appointment but yesterday he left the TV studio behind to take up the job of managing newly promoted Shelbourne in the League of Ireland.
Duff seems to have an all or nothing approach to coaching and management but it is clear that there is still a strong affinity with the club that he helped win four trophies with.
Irish website The 42 reports:
I can’t prove longevity by saying no to Celtic. If Celtic come and ask me to leave Shamrock Rovers U15s, everyone in this room would take it. So I went to Celtic, I had an amazing time there. If I go back there tomorrow, I’d be welcomed back with open arms. I built some amazing, amazing relationship with special people.
But when your wife and kids are back home and your son and daughter are asking ‘Daddy, forget about 8, 9 or 10. We just want you home’. So I came home. I went to the Irish coaching gig and, again, as I touched on, I would have been unhappy with myself so I’m not going to get into that today. I’d like to think everyone in this room would have left the gig when I did.
Everywhere I’ve been, I’ve dedicated my life to it. Longevity or impatient or always jumping ship. I actually don’t when you strip it back. I’m incredibly dedicated, I dedicate my life to players. I’m still in touch with Celtic players, I’m still in touch with Shamrock Rovers U15 players, for help, for guidance on and off the pitch.
Celtic replaced Duff with Gavin Strachan coming in as first team coach.
A big day for the Reds.
And it doesn’t stop there tomorrow ?#RedsTogether | #Since1895 pic.twitter.com/4OJQCKZV1Q
— Shelbourne FC (@shelsfc) November 3, 2021