Damien Duff

Damien Duff

File:DuffNewcastle.jpg
Personal information
Full name	Damien Duff
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	Left Winger
Team information
Current team	Newcastle United
Number	11
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of June 11, 2006

Damien Anthony Duff (born March 2, 1979 in Ballyboden, Dublin) is an Irish footballer. He currently plays as a winger for FA Premier League club Newcastle United and internationally for the Republic of Ireland.

Blackburn Rovers career

Duff was signed by Blackburn as a trainee and stayed with the club for seven years, making over 200 appearances and scoring 35 goals. During his time in Lancashire, he helped the club achieve promotion to the Premiership in 2001 (where it has remained ever since) and win the League Cup the following season. In the run-up to the 2003-04 season, Chelsea made a series of bids for Duff, with a £17m offer eventually triggering a release clause in the player's contract.

Chelsea career

Duff completed his move to West London in July (the transfer fee of £17m was at the time a club record), and there were high hopes for the Irishman. His first season at Chelsea was somewhat plagued by injury, and crucially he missed the latter stages of the season, including the Champions League semi-finals. Duff scored six goals that season with his goal against Newcastle in a 5-0 demolition particularly underlining his talent. Intercepting a throw from his international team-mate, Shay Given, he chipped the ball over the last man's leg and took a few touches before volleying the ball into the bottom corner of the net past his compatriot. Another individual effort came against Lazio in a 4-0 win at the Stadio Olimpico. Receiving the ball on the left wing, he dribbled past four defenders before slotting the ball in at the far post with his right foot. He was instrumental in securing for Chelsea the club's highest league finish for 49 years as well as the Champions League run, but the season ultimately ended trophyless and with the sacking of manager Claudio Ranieri.

The arrival of Dutch winger Arjen Robben and new manager José Mourinho posed a threat to Duff's place in the starting line-up for the 2004/2005 season, but an injury to Robben at the start of the season saw Duff as the only available winger. Mourinho, however, didn't play Duff in the early part of the 2004/2005 season, preferring a more narrow approach. Duff eventually got into the side after four games and, when Robben returned to the side, Duff's versatility saw him move to the right wing and form a ferocious wing partnership with Robben. The season proved to be successful for both Duff and Chelsea. He scored ten goals, including a crucial strike in a 4-2 win against Barcelona in the Champions League, while the team won the Premiership title and the Carling Cup (in which Duff scored what proved to be the winning goal in the semi-final against Manchester United).

Duff proved to be a pivotal player for Chelsea in 2004/2005 but the 2005/2006 season was largely disappointing for him as he failed to recapture his form from the previous season. Duff was also left out of the side in favour of Robben and Joe Cole, and there was mounting transfer speculation regarding his future at Chelsea. In the summer of 2006, clubs such as Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle were reported to be interested in signing him.

Newcastle United career

On July 22, 2006, Duff agreed terms over a £5m move to Newcastle United and officially completed his transfer on July 23, signing a 5 year contract.[1] Duff was believed to have been considering an offer from Newcastle, before Liverpool made a late bid to sign him. Duff claimed it was the fans, the city and the club itself that attracted him to sign for Newcastle.[2]

His first game was a start in a friendly home game against Dutch side PSV Eindhoven on the 29th July 2006, he was substitued shortly into the second half. The game ended on a 3-2 win to PSV Eindhoven.

Duff made his competitive debut in a UEFA Cup second round qualifying round first leg against Latvian side FK Ventspils.

Republic of Ireland career

Duff has won over 50 caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring six goals. He played every game for them at the 2002 World Cup and scored a goal against Saudi Arabia as Ireland reached the second round.

Recently he played a key role with Ian Harte to help Ireland to a 3-0 victory over Sweden. Duff also scored in this game.

At junior level, he played for Ireland in the 1997 and 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship.

Ability

After his performances in the Champions League and World Cup 2002 for Chelsea and Ireland respectively, Duff is now one of the most feared wingers in Europe. With pace, accurate crossing and impressive finishing combined with his much improved versatility, such as an ability to play on the right-wing, as a second striker or at left-back as well as his natural position of left-midfield.

External links

• Football Database provides Damien Duff's profile and stats
• BBC profile
• Chelsea Club profile
• Newcastle Club profile
• Compilation video of goals, runs and assists