Born: Ballyboden, Dublin, 2 March 1979
Position: Winger
International caps: 100
International goals: 8
Signed: 18 August 2009 from Newcastle United (£3.5m)
Fulham debut: Fulham 3-1 Amkar Perm, 20 August 2009
Fulham appearances: 173
Fulham goals: 22
Honours: UEFA Europa League runners-up (2009-10).
Sold: 23 May 2014 (released).
Damien Duff made an impact right from the start of his Fulham career, providing an assist seconds after coming on as a substitute for his debut against Amkar Perm in the Europa League qualifying play-off first leg in August 2009. He flourished at Craven Cottage under former manager Roy Hodgson following a frustrating end to his Newcastle career – with his experience and guile injecting creativity and European knowhow into a team that lacked continental pedigree.
The Irish international made a habit of popping up with vital goals in SW6 – opening his Fulham account with a wonderful winner against Everton in December 2009 before sealing a famous win over Manchester United with a brilliant strike later that very month. He was a vital part of the side that reached the Europa League final, scoring in the quarter final first leg win over Wolfsburg, and went on to belie his advancing age with a series of superb displays under Martin Jol. He scored four goals in five matches under Mark Hughes in March 2011 and found the net in the first two games of the 2012/2013 campaign but injuries caught up with him during a dismal campaign that ended with the Whites being relegated from the top flight and he was released in May 2014.
Duff finished his playing career at Shamrock Rovers, where he began his coaching journey by taking charge of the club’s under 15 side. He then joined the first team coaching staff before moving to coach at Celtic and swiftly joining Neil Lennon’s backroom staff as the Glasgow giants won a third consecutive title in a row. He helped Celtic win nine league titles in succession before becoming the Republic of Ireland’s assistant manager. Duff is now manager of Shelbourne in the League of Ireland.
