The former Shelbourne manager and ex-Ireland winger has joined Keith Andrews as Brentford’s assistant boss.
Damien Duff(Image: James Chance/Getty Images)
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The plaudits were raining down on Damien Duff as Brentford’s Irish stars savoured their opening day win over Tottenham
Spurs, under new boss Roberto De Zerbi, were supposed to have been reborn after last season’s near-disastrous brush with relegation.
But they were sent packing by a rampant Bees outfit, who were three-up with 41 minutes of regular time still to play.
Keith Andrews was one of the good news stories of last season. The surprise choice to replace Thomas Frank, who steered Tottenham towards the bottom three before being relieved of his duties, he defied expectations by leading the club to within a whisker of European qualification.
Eager to build on that and avoid second-season-syndrome, he made a shrewd close-season investment by recruiting his former Ireland teammate and ex-Shelbourne boss Duff as his number two.
It was a popular move within the Brentford dressing room, according to the club’s growing Irish contingent.
Andrews spoke after the Spurs win of Duff’s influence.
Keith Andrews celebrates Brentford's opening goal against Tottenham(Image: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)
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“He’s got a lot of responsibilities. He’s my number two. He’s a magnificent coach, he’s brilliant support for me day-to-day,” he said.
“He’s someone I trust implicitly, someone who’s already built up a really good rapport with staff members and players.
“They’ll look at his playing career, but that’s just a tiny bit of it for me. What makes him who he is? It’s his craft, his coaching, the level of detail, his passion.
“I just want Damien to be Damien. I’ve known him a long, long time. I love his personality, his drive and his passion. We’re working really, really well together.”
Brentford’s Ireland internationals Caoimhin Kelleher and Nathan Collins were equally complimentary.
Goalkeeper Kelleher said: “He’s been brilliant. I’ve worked with Damien before. He’s full of energy, wants to get better.
“He comes in and works hard on the training pitch every day, loves his sessions. He wants to push players. He’s exactly what we need. He’s been really good.
“I think we had a good season last year, Keith’s first season, obviously getting to know each other as a group and finding out things about ourselves.
“I think this season we have a good springboard to push on even more. If we can continue in this form, then we’ll see where that takes us, but hopefully it’s a really good trajectory.”
As for Collins, who along with Kelleher enjoyed an opening day clean sheet, the centre-half said: “Ah he (Duff) is class. He’s just himself. Really honest, standards are really high. He has a lot of energy.
“He’s looking more at the attackers, that was his position, but he still helps me with a few bits. He’s another voice, another established coach, someone that bounces off people really well.
“He doesn’t care who it is, he speaks the way he speaks to everyone else. We like how honest he is, that’s really important.
“I knew he was a good coach (before Brentford), what he did back in Ireland (with Shelbourne) was impressive.”
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