‘It would drive me insane’ – Damien Duff explains why he’s not interested in Ireland vacancy

In a wide-ranging interview with Richie Sadlier on the Second Captains podcast released today, the Shels boss says he’s incredibly happy working at Tolka Park as his side currently sit six points clear at the top of the Premier Division.

Duff previously worked in the Irish set-up as assistant coach under Stephen Kenny but now halfway into his third season with the Drumcondra club, he insists that helping his side to success and silverware remains his ambition.

“No, it would drive me insane. I had the eight, nine months with Stephen (Kenny). You are in an office every day. Just pottering around. There is nothing better than going in and being with the players, our players. It’s special, you are building bonds every day,” said Duff, speaking on the Second Captains podcast.

“What do international managers, coaches do? They might fly over and meet the player at the training ground, are you really building a bond? You build bonds on Friday nights here in Ireland, Monday nights, and in England – Saturday afternoons.

“It doesn’t interest me whatsoever because I’m learning too much at the moment.

“I am incredibly happy just working with special people every day at Shelbourne. To look that far ahead, do I want to manage Ireland? I just want to win trophies with Shelbourne. Outside of that, even England, ‘would you go to England?’, I have no interest.

“My kids have six, seven years left in school. Celtic was bloody amazing, a special time of my life – the learning I got, I was spoiled but I’m not leaving my kids again when they’re this young.

“Maybe that’s why I don’t look too far down the line with ambition or Ireland manager. If you’re happy, why change?”

In his first season in charge in 2022, Duff led Shels to a first FAI Cup final in 11 years and last season he guided the Reds to fourth and a first European qualification in 17 years. The Irish centurion feels some supporters of other clubs hate Shelbourne more than they love their own side.

“Absolutely we’re hated. I have said it openly in the press the last week or two. I absolutely believe that some football fans around the country hate Shelbourne more than they love their own team. They will probably hate me even more for saying that,” he added.

“Any country, this country, especially in football, I do think there’s a lot of people like that, begrudgers you’d call them. That drives me on. I know now, my two and a half years into the gig, I think a lot of people in the country hate me, hate the staff, hate the players, hate the club. It drives us on.

“We have created a mentality – us against the world, us pushing it but I think it has happened naturally as well.

“I think coaching is my calling, more than it was being a footballer, which probably sounds bizarre to some people. I think I have enjoyed coaching and management maybe more than my playing career. The last two and a half years, totally feeling alive and out of your comfort zone, grown as a person. Coaching, I think it is my calling, I absolutely believe it.”