Damien Duff blown away by Brentford visit as he weighs coaching return

Damien Duff admitted he may have to look outside of Ireland for his next job in football. Though, he currently has no concrete plans

Damien Duff departed Shelbourne last summer. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

Damien Duff said he may look outside of Ireland for his next job in football. After leading Shelbourne to the League of Ireland Premier Division title in 2024, Duff made a shock departure as manager last summer midway through the season.

"I have to start probably looking outside the country because there's not a big industry here, as we know," the former Ireland international said during an appearance on Premier Sports' Champions League coverage.

"I've cut my ties with many people. But there's not a lot of jobs, football jobs, coaching jobs in the country. And the longer the year has gone on...  I belong on the grass.

"And whether it be here, there, as in the UK or somewhere else, I don't know.

"The most alive you'll ever feel, for me anyway, is on a football pitch.

"And then when I retired, by default, I don't know how I got into coaching, but I did, I felt even more alive coaching."

Duff recently visited Premier League side Brentford where his former Ireland teammate Keith Andrews, the club's head coach, gave him "all access to the club for three, four days".

Brentford head coach Keith Andrews gave Damien Duff "all access" to the club recently. Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

"I'd be poor at leaving the house and reaching out to people and going to football clubs," said Duff.

"I've gone absolutely nowhere. But I did reach out to Keith because I find it a fascinating place.

"It was amazing. It was amazing to see such a well-run club. It's not rocket science, really, to see how well they're doing from top to bottom.

"Brilliant people, honest people, energy, enthusiasm, obviously real quality. It was so refreshing. The minute I walked into the building, I just thought to myself, wow.

"And then from a personal point of view, obviously, I've known Keith for 15, 20 years. I'm really pleased for him because I think people were sticking the knife in even before his first game. I think at times, even in the football world, people enjoy sticking the knife in.

"But he's done brilliant. And even speaking to people away from Keith when I was there, they love him. They're so fond of him and they've been blown away by what he's brought to the football club."

The first two people Duff met when he arrived at the London club were Ireland internationals Nathan Collins and Caoimhín Kelleher. 

"It was good to hear Caoimhín talk at last because when I was with him in the squad four or five years ago, I don't think I ever had a discussion with him," said Duff.

"But yeah, obviously two great guys and the future of Irish football will be built on them too.

"Sometimes it's the stuff that you can't see, but you can just feel. And listen, they're obviously in a great place in the league. Just brilliant, brilliant players - underrated players. Obviously, watching them train up close and personal. So a high, high quality.

"Just the feel, the feel and just a well-run football club because it's not always a given. You look at maybe a couple of my ex-clubs - Blackburn, Chelsea - they're two basket cases and that's why they are where they are. Brentford, brilliant from top to bottom."

Duff admitted the visit to Brentford was "possibly" made as he considers a return to coaching. Though, he added: "I have no plan. I have absolutely no plan."