Damien Duff has officially resigned from his position as the manager of Shelbourne, the reigning champions of the League of Ireland Premier Division. The 46-year-old former Chelsea and Fulham winger led Shelbourne to their first league title in 18 years in 2024, marking a significant milestone in the club's history.

Despite this historic achievement, Shelbourne has faced challenges in maintaining their form during the current season. After 22 matches, the team sits in sixth place, trailing Shamrock Rovers by 15 points. Duff's final match in charge was a 1-0 home defeat to Derry City, marking their sixth loss of the season.

In a statement released by the club, Shelbourne expressed their deep sadness but also their respect for Duff's decision. Neil Doyle, co-owner of Shelbourne, praised Duff's contributions, stating, "There are no words to do justice to Damien's accomplishments at the club and his impact on the league as a whole. We look back with immense pride on his time here."

Duff's departure comes just before Shelbourne's upcoming match against Waterford. Joey O'Brien, Duff's assistant and former Bolton and West Ham defender, will take charge of the team for this fixture. Additionally, Shelbourne has been drawn against Linfield, the Irish Premiership winners, in the first round of Champions League qualifying, with matches scheduled for 9 and 16 July.

Duff, who earned 100 caps for the Republic of Ireland during his playing career, took on his first managerial role at Shelbourne in 2021. After finishing as runners-up in the FAI Cup in 2022, he guided the team to their first league title since 2006 with a dramatic final-day victory over Derry City in 2023.

Shelbourne now faces the challenge of moving forward without Duff, but the club remains optimistic about the future, confident that the foundations laid during his tenure will support continued success.