Duff reunites with former Ireland team-mate Andrews at Brentford

“I’ve known Damien for a long time,” said Andrews. “I’ve seen him up close throughout his coaching journey. We’ve been on courses together and worked together as coaches with the Republic of Ireland national team.

“Damien will bring experience, presence and a real level of detail to our coaching department. He will add to the great group we already have and I’m very pleased that he is joining us.”

Duff joins a first-team coaching department of Mehmet Ali (Assistant), Kevin O’Connor (First Team Coach), Neil MacFarlane (First Team Coach), Jack Lester (First Team Coach) Stephen Rice (Set Piece Coach) and Manu Sotelo (Goalkeeper Coach).

Duff enjoyed an illustrious playing career that spanned almost two decades. He made more than 600 senior appearances and won two Premier League titles, the League Cup and Community Shield during three years with Chelsea.

He also earned 100 caps for the Republic of Ireland.

After retiring from playing in 2015, Duff moved into coaching with Shamrock Rovers before joining Celtic as a First Team Coach in February 2019, helping the club to a domestic treble in 2019/20. He also moved into international coaching with the Republic of Ireland, taking charge of their Under-15s before stepping up to Kenny’s senior staff.

As Ireland team-mates, Andrews and Duff would while away time playing chess, with Andrews once describing a chess “school” within the squad and Duff as his most regular opponent.

“We had a good school going,” Andrews told the Irish Examiner in 2012. “Myself, Paul McShane, Glenn Whelan played a few — but mainly it’s myself and Duffer. I’ve played chess since I was at school and Damien is still learning, so I’d have a few years on him.”

Asked what their team-mates made of the pair, he laughed that they were regarded as “a pair of geeks.”

Speaking earlier this year, Andrews described Duff as “a friend for 20-plus years — someone I value really highly, someone I like spending time with.”

Duff took charge of Shelbourne in November 2021 and oversaw a significant period of progress at the Dublin club, guiding them into UEFA Conference League qualifying before delivering the League of Ireland Premier Division title in 2024 — Shelbourne’s first league championship in 18 years.