Former Chelsea winger Damien Duff was left hanging by Jose Mourinho after attempting to call his former manager to celebrate Shelbourne’s League of Ireland title.
Duff – who won the Premier League twice with Chelsea during his playing career – went into the final day of the League of Ireland season with his side holding a two-point lead over Shamrock Rovers.
With Shamrock Rovers winning on the final day and boasting a superior goal difference, Duff’s win need a win away at fourth-placed Derry City to be sure of lifting the title.
Duff’s men scored in the 84th minute through former Manchester United youth player Harry Wood, with his effort proving enough to win Shelbourne’s first league title for 18 years.
The Shelbourne boss then vowed to give his players ‘monkey’ – €500 (£420) towards their celebrations – if Fenerbahce boss Mourinho did not answer when he attempted to call him in the dressing room.
Former Chelsea star Damien Duff led Shelbourne to the League of Ireland title on Friday
Duff attempted to call his former boss Jose Mourinho, but proved unsuccessful
Duff later revealed the role Mourinho had played in his side’s preparations for the match
After Mourinho failed to pick up, Duff joked he would go ‘double or quits on the next one’, before the 45-year-old jokingly suggested his former Chelsea boss had responded.
Duff later suggested that the mentality of his Shelbourne players was the closest he has experienced to Mourinho’s Premier League title winning side at Chelsea in 2005.
‘I died on the pitch for Jose, that’s what I’ve always done,’ Duff told the Irish Independent. ‘Everyone hated Chelsea, everyone hates us, blah, blah, blah. Another chapter in the story.
‘I told the lads beforehand that the last time I felt that mentality and feeling was with the Chelsea 2005 group. We’d sweat blood and tears for each other and I haven’t tasted it since but I’ve tasted it for the last few years with these guys.’
Duff revealed that Mourinho had played a role in the build-up to the season defining match.
The legendary manager sent a private message for Duff to show to the squad, with his message shown to the players two hours before kick-off.
‘Why Jose?’ Because do I try and build, have we tried to build a siege mentality, us against the world like he did? Absolutely,’ Duff said.
‘It would be mad not to tap into him. So Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, there was posts on the Instagram page. Powerful lyrics, powerful words that would resonate and have a meaning to tie in for tonight.
Duff revealed Mourinho had sent a video message which was shown to the team pre-match
Shelbourne captain Mark Coyle pictured lifting the League of Ireland trophy above his head
Friday’s winning goal was scored by former Man United youth player Harry Wood (centre)
‘Then, in the team meeting, there was a private message from Jose speaking about what it takes to win a title as a team, as an individual. It blew the guys away. A video that was shown in the Everglades two hours before the game.’
Mourinho was not the only legendary sporting figure to help out in Shelbourne’s bid for the title.
Duff also revealed rugby great Sir Ian McGeechan, the former Scotland and Lions boss, had also been used as motivation.
Shelbourne ended the season with 63 points from their 36 matches. Shamrock finished second with 61, ahead of St Patrick’s Athletic with 59.
Duff has been in charge at Shelbourne since November 2021.
Ex-winger Duff twice won the English Premier League with Chelsea during his playing career
Duff (circled) compared his team’s mentality to Mourinho’s Chelsea side back in 2005
After retiring from playing in December 2015, he started his coaching career at Shamrock, where he initially worked with the U15 side.
He later worked as part of Ireland’s backroom staff, starting with the U15s before becoming assistant manager to Stephen Kenny.
Duff gained further coaching experience at Glasgow giants Celtic before eventually taking the No 1 job at Shelbourne.
Prior to Friday’s dramatic season finale, Shelbourne had not been champions of Ireland since 2006.