OF ALL THE pictures and all the memories of Lansdowne Road that Elaine Duff could have chosen…
Damien Duff’s first goal in the old stadium, against Croatia in 2001.
A snap of her husband in action against the mighty Netherlands en-route to the 2002 World Cup finals.
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Or of the post-match celebrations when Ireland finished the job against Estonia in 2011, to qualify for the following summer’s European Championships.
But no. The one picture in his house, the one hint that an international footballer, a two-time Premier League winner lives there hangs in the downstairs jacks.
And it’s a snap of Duff looking one way while his teammates gaze uniformly in another direction altogether, as the national anthem rings out ahead of a 2-1 win against Armenia.
Quite the sense of humour, Mrs Duff!
The former Chelsea and Ireland star revealed the extent to which his glittering career is celebrated at home when asked what the hallowed Lansdowne Road turf means to him.
“What stands out? Pride, emotion…” Duff replied.
“I've one picture up in my house. I didn't put it up. Elaine put it up, just out of jest.
“You wouldn't know there was a footballer or an ex-footballer living in the house.
“It was the one where I was facing the wrong way for the national anthem, that jumps out for me straight away.
“I remember (saying to) St Ledger, ‘Would you not f***ing tell me I was facing the wrong way?’.
“And he was like, ‘You looked like you were in the zone Duffer’.
“I think it was Armenia, it could have been Armenia and the first ten minutes I was f***ing horrific cos I just kept thinking, you looked like an idiot there.”
Duff isn’t one to hang framed jerseys on the wall.
“I don't see why there should be. You watch football documentaries and they build rooms in their house like a shrine to themselves. It's big ego,” he says.
It’s the eve of Shelbourne’s appearance in the FAI Cup final and Duff has a chance to crown his first season in senior management with a winners’ medal.
Maybe it will end up next to the picture.
“I think it could be in the toilet now,” said Duff. “There's no jerseys. No nothing. Just the way I like it.
“When you come here, your national stadium, there's no greater moment.
“It doesn't mean you have to be pulling on the green shirt. You're pulling on the Shelbourne shirt on Sunday and it's just as proud a moment.”
Duff has already described Shels’ progress to the FAI Cup final as the greatest achievement of his career.
It’s quite the claim, given his honours across the water and his goal at the 2002 World Cup.
But when he talks about the emotion within the dressing room and the hours of unseen work that he and his coaching staff have put in, it makes a little more sense.
“It's footage and laptops, staring at screens which is, listen, you have to do it, but where I feel at home and most alive is at a pitch or on the sideline,” he said.
Duff brought his players to the Aviva earlier this week so that they wouldn’t be overawed by the size of the pitch, the stands and dressing rooms tomorrow.
“They won't admit it,” he said, “but I would say a few hadn't been here, a few certainly hadn't been pitchside.
“I know for a fact that some haven't worn a suit ever in their life. Each to their own. Shane Farrell is one of them!”
Duff added: “I know I said after the Waterford game (that this was his biggest achievement) and I'm sure people were like, f***ing hell, you've just won four games, anyone can do that.
“It's not the fact we've won four games, it's the whole journey, the whole process.
“I'd never planned on being a manager. I said at the start when I took over the gig I was scared, I said no because I didn't back myself, but in the end I took it.
“That's why it's the pinnacle. Football is football, I played it whereas this is like, oof, totally out of the comfort zone stuff. That's why it's number one.”
While still a rookie manager, Duff had the foresight to make sure all the distractions were out of the way before this week’s build-up to the final.
Players being hassled for tickets is a common one.
“That would be a bugbear of mine,” said Duff, “people you haven't heard of in three or four years getting onto you like they're best mates.
“That was all addressed last week, I didn't want any nonsense this week so suits, hotel rooms, tickets, it was all sorted last week, just to breed calm into the week.
“It's happened to me a couple of times in my career where you've built something up too much.
“You're constantly thinking about the game and adrenaline is flowing through your veins 24/7 every day leading up to the game and then you fall flat on your face in the game.
“They're young boys, I've spoken about that with them but, listen, to quote someone yesterday, I overheard one of the boys, they'd die to get on the pitch and that was an absolute quote.
“I thought it was beautiful because at the end of the day, it's every young boy's dream to play in their national stadium.
“And when I heard that yesterday I was like (puffs cheeks) that's powerful, so they'd die to get on the pitch.
“I think you know our team by now, when they're on the pitch they die for each other as well. That's why we are here at the end of the day.”
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