Damien Duff: The Biography by Joel Miller
Irishman Damien Duff is one of the Premiership's most feared attacking footballers. The king of wide attacking play on the King's Road, he's a man of exceptional talent and frightening pace, and it's a brave defender who takes his presence lightly. Signed by Blackburn as a trainee, he helped the Lancastrians to achieve promotion to the Premiership in 2001 and victory in the League Cup the following season. Appearances in the 2002 World Cup, and playing in the domestic top-flight, meant it wasn't long before he was picked up by a bigger club side, and in 2003 Chelsea swooped, paying GBP 17m - then a club record for the Blues...Though plagued by injury, Duff scored five goals that season, with his spectacular one-man goal against Newcastle in a 5-0 demolition particularly underlining his talent, sadly though the season ended trophyless. 2004/5 proved to be more successful for both Duff and Chelsea. He scored ten goals, including a crucial strike in a 4-2 win against Barcelona in the Champions League, while the team won the Premiership title and the Carling Cup, with Duff scoring what proved to be the winning goal in the semi-final against arch-rivals Manchester United. Duff is one of the most feared wingers in Europe with lightning speed, pinpoint crossing and impressive finishing combined with great versatility, such as an ability to play on the right-wing, as a second striker or at left-back. He is considered to be one of Chelsea's major attacking threats. He has also won over 50 caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring six goals. This is the story of how the slight, swift and inscrutable lad from Dublin City made it in the toughest football league in the world.