Damien Duff has returned to coaching for the first time since leaving Shelbourne last summer.

The 2024 League of Ireland winner surprisingly resigned from his role at Tolka Park midway through last season, with the side in the midst of a European campaign which would eventually see Joey O’Brien qualify them to the Europa Conference League.

Since then, Duff has kept a low profile, doing a few punditry gigs for Premier Sports and Virgin Media covering the Champions League and League of Ireland.

However, he is now set to return to football coaching, taking up a role under his old Republic of Ireland teammate Keith Andrews at Premier League side Brentford. The West London side were a surprise package last season, finishing ninth.

The Bees had been tipped for relegation by many heading into the campaign, and in his first job in senior management, Andrews guided Brentford to their best season since getting promoted to the Premier League. The club have been praised, including by Duff, for their behind-the-scenes set-up, and Duff revealed that he had gone to visit the club earlier this year.

He described being in awe when he first arrived, saying: ‘It was amazing to see such a well-run club, so it’s not rocket science really to see how well they’re doing. It was so refreshing. The minute I walked into the building, I just thought to myself, “Wow.”

He added: ‘Sometimes it’s the stuff that you can’t see, but just the stuff you can feel.’

And now, Duff is back at Brentford, this time on a permanent basis as a First Team Assistant Coach. ‘I’ve known Damien for a long time,’ said Brentford head coach Keith 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.’

This move increases the Irish influence on the club, as along with Andrews, the current Republic of Ireland captain Nathan Collins and star goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher ply their trade at the club.