Damien Duff does not consider himself a top manager and insists he will never think he has 'made it' in the game.
Since taking over as Shelbourne boss in 2021, the Ireland legend has masterminded a league title win, led the club back into Europe and reached an FAI Cup final. But Duff reckons he will lose his edge the moment he stops to pat himself on the back.
The topic came up in discussion yesterday as the Reds boss looked ahead to Friday’s televised Dublin derby clash against Bohemians at Tolka Park.
Duff was asked about Gary Neville’s comments following Sunday’s bore draw in the Manchester derby, that players are micro-managed to the point of being robotic.
“Micromanaging where to stand, where to run - if we didn’t do that for the last three years we potentially wouldn’t have stayed up and got to the cup final in year one,” he said.
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“We wouldn’t have got to Europe in year two, and we wouldn’t have won the league in year three. If I was just to let - brilliant players, a brilliant squad - these guys ‘out yiz go, boys, and just play’, pfft, it wouldn’t be a pretty watch.
"I’m not a top manager so I’m not putting myself in this bracket but any top manager, take Liverpool, those players are told where to stand and where to run, believe you me. Guardiola, six Premier Leagues, how did they do it? By being micromanaged. If I just tell the lads ‘off you pop and do what you want’ it would be mental, mental.”
Duff was then pressed on why he doesn’t consider himself a “top manager” bearing in mind the success he has brought to Shels in a relatively short period of time.
"It's not for me to say,” he said. "I never got carried away if I had a good game or a good season as a footballer and I've never done it as a manager or coach. I always doubt myself, I always assess myself and I always have a little bit of paranoia which just drives you on.
“Yeah we won the league, but if I thought I was tops I would come off it and probably not work as hard. It's just me, it's in my DNA and we're all different.”
And driving home the point, Duff continued: “There is a phrase in football 'you've made it'. Maybe it's sport, maybe it's life but I was nearly 35 playing in the Premier League, probably not to a great level, but I didn't think I had made it then.
“I know it sounds a cheesy line but that was me in my 30s, so no, I haven't made it. If I manage for another 20 or 30 years, I'd never think I have made it or think I was top, top as it's just onto the next one.”
And Duff reiterated that he has no designs on testing himself as a Premier League manager in England, insisting he wants to be here with his family.
“I don't even think about it,” he explained. “At that level you're obviously up against the best of the best but there are brilliant coaches here. People say what's your plan, because it's good to have a plan in life. I don't. As long as I'm wanted here, I'm staying here.”
Duff’s son Woody was in the room yesterday, sitting down the back watching his dad holding court ahead of the Dublin derby.
“I’m here because they (the children) are here and I want to be here. Celtic, a year, or over a year without them, I will never do that again.
“Football is my life. The Bill Shankly one, that it's more important than life or death, when you strip it all back, no, I'm staying with my kids and it's that simple. I don't look or picture myself anywhere else but Ireland.”
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