DUFFER SHOCK
Ireland legend quits Kenny’s coaching team
DAMIEN DUFF has sensationally quit his position as coach to the Republic of Ireland just 10 weeks before the opening World Cup qualifier against Serbia.
The shock exit of the 100-capped Irish winger has rocked manager Stephen Kenny, and FAI chiefs too, as no one saw it coming.
Kenny is understood to be dismayed by the news, confirmed late last night by an FAI statement, which leaves him searching for a new third-in-command.
Highly-regarded, Duff had made a positive impact as Irish coach during his short time of eight games under Kenny.
While irked at the FAI’s handling of ‘Wembleygate’, Duff said on RTÉ last month how important it was for Irish players to stay fit and get game time between now and the opening Group A game in March. There was no indication anything was amiss as he promised ‘nearer the time’ there would be no more ‘motivational videos.’
For Kenny, the Duff departure is the latest in a series of setbacks he’s had to deal with as manager, on and off the pitch.
Without a win, he’s now without a No 3. If he promotes from within, Ruaidhri Higgins would be the most likely contender. Former Dundalk boss Vinny Perth could also be a runner for the role.
DAMIEN DUFF’S departure from the Republic of Ireland coaching ticket is a New Year’s nightmare for manager Stephen Kenny. Duff is an Irish centurion, a World Cup goal scorer, a link to Brian Kerr’s Malaysia Marvels, and a dual winner of the Premier League and League Cup. He is right up there in terms of credibility, recognition and achievements.
And now, he has gone, slipping away into the icy night with Jack Frost and a football. Why? That’s the question Irish players and fans will be asking themselves.
Kenny is also understood to have been taken aback at losing his third-in-command just 10 weeks before the start of a World Cup campaign.
Duff gave up a secure coaching job at Celtic because Kenny identified him as a key player in his ambitions to revolutionise Irish football.
In August, Duff spoke of how Kenny’s ‘vision’ had ‘excited’ him. He said he wanted to help Kenny and help players too, and that the FAI would be ‘stuck with me for a while’. Only now, it’s Kenny who’s stuck.
With 10 weeks to go before the Belgrade bow against Serbia, Kenny must find a replacement for Duff, an integral member of his staff, privy to all pre-match preparations and post-match analysis.
Duff has had an input into every training session, attended all eight matches under Kenny, and is clued in to the players, tactics and systems.
He will be a huge loss.
The FAI statement late last night shed little light on the reasons for Duff’s abrupt exit.
Now the embattled Kenny must move on without one of his trusted lieutenants.
He has to find a replacement from outside — it certainly won’t be Robbie Keane — or perhaps promote from within, with Ruaidhri Higgins moving up a place in the coaching hierarchy.
For Kenny, this is the latest in a string of setbacks he has had to deal with as Irish manager. Between Covid-19 disruptions, a run of eight games without a win, one goal scored, the mysterious retirement of 2019 Player of the Year David McGoldrick, and the fall-out to ‘Wembley-gate’ he hasn’t had an easy ride.
And now this. Dependable, dexterous, durable Duffer has slung his hook. It’s understood his exit is not related to any other job offer, nor is it family related.
So why has Duffer bowed out?
He was known to be miffed at the FAI’s call to investigate ‘Wembley-gate’, regarding the in-house reaction as heavyhanded and unnecessary. Yet, he appeared to have moved on.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Champions League coverage on December 8, he was upbeat about how Ireland had performed in Slovakia by ‘creating chances the right way’.
Under Kenny, observed Duff, Ireland were now ‘playing attractive football the way people want it played.’
He gave no indication anything was amiss.
‘I think in between now and March, it’s just hoping lads get game time, get plenty of minutes, get fit, stay well and obviously get Seamus (Coleman) back firing for Everton,’ he said.
They weren’t the words of someone about to jack it in as the Republic of Ireland’s No3, yet Duff informed Kenny of his intentions earlier this week — Kenny was understood to be stunned and disappointed.
Duff, 41, continues to have a link to Irish football, as manager of Shelbourne U17s, but no one knows when they’ll play again.
Under Kenny, the Dubliner seemed well-placed to continue learning his trade and have his credentials stamped as a possible future Irish manager.
It’s 11 years since Liam Brady stunned Irish football by stepping away from his role as one of Giovanni Trapattoni’s assistant managers.
Brady went after the World Cup qualification ended and before the Euros began.
In contrast, Duff, another living legend and a link to Ireland’s last World Cup appearance in 2002, has taken his leave before a shot has been fired in anger.