Premier League winner lifts first league title as manager - but now owes his players €500

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One Premier League winner suffered a financial blow after lifting his first league title as a manager at the weekend

Derry , United Kingdom - 1 November 2024; Shelbourne staff, back row, from left, kitman Karl Watson, team doctor Anthony Hoban, coach David McAllister, assistant manager Joey O'Brien, technical director Luke Byrne, goalkeeping coach Paul Skinner, kitman Graham Watson and kitman Johnny Watson, with, front row, strength and conditioning coach Mauro Martins, physiotherapist Rory Byrne, manager Damien Duff and video analyst Sam Mulhearn celebrate with the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division trophy after the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Derry City and Shelbourne at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
Title-winning celebrations (Image credit: Getty Images)

Premier League winner Damien Duff enjoyed his first title triumph as a manager at the weekend, helping Shelbourne to the League of Ireland title in dramatic circumstances.

Though they were two points ahead of Dublin-based rivals Shamrock Rovers heading into the final day, Shelbourne's inferior goal difference meant they likely needed a victory to secure their first league title in 18 years.

Shamrock Rovers were winning 2-1 heading into the final minutes, while Shelbourne were still goalless away at Derry City. Substitute Harry Wood scored in the 85th minute to win the title for Shelbourne, though, sparking scenes of jubilation from Duff and the rest of his team.

Premier League winner Damien Duff lost €500 from title victory

Derry , United Kingdom - 1 November 2024; Shelbourne manager Damien Duff with the SSE Airtricity Premier Division trophy after his side's victory in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Derry City and Shelbourne at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium in Derry. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Duff celebrates title win (Image credit: Getty Images)

Winning the title means Duff has lost €500. however. While celebrating the win in the dressing room after the game, the former Premier League winner attempted to phone his former manager Jose Mourinho, offering his players a 'monkey' - €500 - if the Portuguese boss didn't pick up.

Mourinho, who won two Premier League titles with Duff at Chelsea in the mid-2000s, didn't answer, leaving the 45-year-old Shelbourne boss having to contribute a nice bonus to their celebration party.

Despite being snubbed in the dressing room - it would have been the early hours of the morning in Turkey for Mourinho - the Fenerbahce manager had sent Duff and his squad a message in the build-up to their crucial game.

SEVILLA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 31: Jose Mourinho (L) the Chelsea coach and player Damien Duff talk to the media during Chelsea's preparation for tomorrow's UEFA Champions League group G match against Real Betis at the Ruiz de Lopera Stadium October 31, 2005 in Sevilla, Spain (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Duff and Mourinho at chelsea (Image credit: Getty Images)

"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 told the Irish Independent.

"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.

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"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."

Duff worked at the Republic of Ireland national team and Celtic as first team coach and assistant manager since retiring from professional football in 2015, before landing the top job at Shelbourne in 2021.

Ryan Dabbs
Ryan Dabbs
Staff writer

Ryan is a staff writer for FourFourTwo, joining the team full-time in October 2022. He first joined Future in December 2020, working across FourFourTwo, Golf Monthly, Rugby World and Advnture's websites, before eventually earning himself a position with FourFourTwo permanently. After graduating from Cardiff University with a degree in Journalism and Communications, Ryan earned a NCTJ qualification to further develop as a writer while a Trainee News Writer at Future.