Shane Duffy facts for kids
Duffy playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 1 January 1992 | ||
| Place of birth | Derry, Northern Ireland | ||
| Height | 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) | ||
| Playing position | Centre-back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Norwich City | ||
| Number | 4 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Foyle Harps | |||
| 2008–2009 | Everton | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2009–2014 | Everton | 5 | (0) |
| 2011 | → Burnley (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2011 | → Scunthorpe United (loan) | 18 | (1) |
| 2013–2014 | → Yeovil Town (loan) | 37 | (1) |
| 2014–2016 | Blackburn Rovers | 63 | (5) |
| 2016–2023 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 140 | (9) |
| 2020–2021 | → Celtic (loan) | 18 | (3) |
| 2022–2023 | → Fulham (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| 2023 | Fulham | 1 | (0) |
| 2023– | Norwich City | 63 | (3) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2008 | Northern Ireland U16 | 5 | (1) |
| 2008 | Northern Ireland U17 | 5 | (1) |
| 2008 | Northern Ireland U19 | 4 | (2) |
| 2009 | Northern Ireland U21 | 3 | (1) |
| 2009 | Northern Ireland B | 1 | (0) |
| 2010 | Republic of Ireland U19 | 3 | (0) |
| 2011–2014 | Republic of Ireland U21 | 20 | (1) |
| 2014- | Republic of Ireland | 61 | (7) |
† Appearances (Goals). |
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Shane Patrick Michael Duffy (born 1 January 1992) is an Irish professional footballer. He plays as a centre-back (a defender in the middle) for the English club Norwich City. He also plays for the Republic of Ireland national team.
Duffy started his football journey in the youth academy at Everton. He spent much of his early career on loan to other clubs to gain experience. In 2014, he joined Blackburn Rovers. After two years there, he moved to Brighton & Hove Albion in 2016. With Brighton, he helped the team get promoted to the Premier League. He also spent the 2020–21 season on loan at Celtic, where he won the 2020 Scottish Cup final.
Before playing for the Republic of Ireland, Duffy represented Northern Ireland at youth level. He made his debut for the senior team in 2014. He played for his country in UEFA Euro 2016 and has earned over 60 caps (appearances) for them so far.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Football
Shane Duffy was born in Derry, Northern Ireland. When he was young, he played both Gaelic football for Doire Colmcille CLG and association football for Foyle Harps. He eventually chose to focus on association football.
In 2007, Duffy played for the Northern Ireland under-16 team. He impressed Everton manager David Moyes during a game against England. Duffy also mentioned that playing for Derry City as a youngster was a "good experience" for him.
Club Career Highlights
Starting at Everton
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Duffy joined Everton in November 2008 as a young player. He worked his way up through the under-18 and reserve teams.
His manager, David Moyes, included him in the first team for pre-season games. Duffy scored his first goal for Everton in a 4–0 win against Rochdale. At just 17 years old, he made his professional debut in December 2009 in a UEFA Europa League match against AEK Athens. He came on as a substitute when another player got injured. He later played his first home game at Goodison Park against BATE Borisov. At the end of the 2009–10 season, he was named the club's Reserve Player of the Year.
In May 2010, Shane had a very serious injury during a training match. He needed emergency surgery and lost a lot of blood. Doctors described it as a "freak accident." Two months later, he spoke about his recovery, thanking the medical staff for saving him. He said he was happy to be alive and would not take anything for granted. Duffy returned to play for Everton's Reserves Team on 8 August 2010.
After returning from a loan spell, Duffy made his Premier League debut on 11 January 2012 against Tottenham Hotspur. Because Everton's main defenders were injured, Duffy started his first Premier League game three days later against Aston Villa. His manager, David Moyes, praised his performances, saying he looked "mature." Duffy made five appearances for Everton that season.
For the 2012–13 season, Duffy was officially part of the senior first team. He signed a contract extension with Everton, keeping him until 2015. However, he didn't play much for the first team and spent most of his time with the reserve team. He scored three goals for the reserves and even captained the side.
Loan Periods to Gain Experience
Duffy joined Burnley on loan in March 2011 for a short period. He played one game for them before returning to Everton.
In August 2011, Duffy went on loan to Scunthorpe United. He made his debut in September and was named Man of the Match. He became a regular player there, and his loan was extended several times. He scored his first goal for Scunthorpe in October 2011 and a second goal in December. He played 19 games for Scunthorpe before Everton called him back due to an injury to one of their main defenders.
In September 2013, Duffy joined Championship club Yeovil Town on loan. He quickly became a key player for them, helping them keep clean sheets. His loan was extended, and he rejoined them in January 2014 until the end of the season. He scored his first goal for Yeovil in March 2014. He played 39 games for Yeovil, becoming a regular starter.
Moving to Blackburn Rovers
On 1 September 2014, Duffy joined Blackburn Rovers on a three-year deal. He made his debut for Blackburn in September 2014 and quickly became a regular defender. He scored his first goal for the club in November 2014.
In the 2015–16 season, Duffy recovered from a knee injury and continued to be a key defender for Blackburn. He scored his first goal of the season in September 2015 and set up another goal in the next game. His performances improved greatly. He even captained Blackburn Rovers for the first time in February 2016. He scored his second goal of the season that month.
In March 2016, Duffy scored his third goal of the season. He was sent off in a later game for handball. After his suspension, he scored his fourth goal of the season in April 2016. He played 42 games that season, scoring four goals.
At the start of the 2016–17 season, Duffy scored two goals in the League Cup. However, in a league match against Cardiff City, he scored two own goals and was sent off.
Time at Brighton & Hove Albion
On 26 August 2016, Duffy signed a four-year deal with Brighton & Hove Albion. The transfer fee was a club record for Brighton at the time.
Becoming a Regular Player
Duffy made his debut for Brighton on 27 August 2016. He helped the team keep many clean sheets (games without letting the other team score). His strong performances earned him a nomination for Player of the Month. He scored his first goal for Brighton in December 2016 and a second in February 2017. He was a constant presence in Brighton's defense, playing alongside Lewis Dunk.
Duffy suffered a foot injury that kept him out for the rest of the 2016–17 season. Despite this, his contributions helped Brighton get promoted to the Premier League. After their promotion, Duffy signed a new contract with the club.
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Duffy was in the starting lineup for Brighton's first-ever Premier League game on 12 August 2017. He also played in Brighton's first Premier League win. He continued to be a key defender, making many clearances (kicking the ball away from danger). In May 2018, Duffy helped Brighton beat Manchester United 1–0, which secured their place in the Premier League for another season. He played in almost every league game that season.
In the 2018–19 season, Duffy scored in Brighton's 3–2 win over Manchester United. He scored again in September 2018. He helped the team keep three clean sheets in a row in October 2018. In December 2018, he scored his third goal of the season. He was later sent off in a match against Crystal Palace.
After his suspension, Duffy returned to the team. He scored his fourth goal of the season in January 2019 and his fifth in February. He played in five FA Cup games as Brighton reached the semi-finals at Wembley. Brighton secured their Premier League safety again in April 2019. At the end of the season, Duffy played 40 games and scored five goals. He was named Brighton's Player of the Year for the 2018–19 season.
For the 2019–20 season, Duffy's playing time decreased due to new players joining the team. However, he still made 21 appearances and scored one goal.
Loan to Celtic
On 2 September 2020, Duffy joined Celtic on loan for the season. He scored on his Celtic debut in a 5–0 win. He scored again four days later. He also played in the UEFA Europa League. He started in the 2020 Scottish Cup Final in December, which Celtic won after a penalty shootout.
Duffy scored his first goal at Celtic Park in December. He returned to Brighton in May 2021 after getting an injury. He played 27 games for Celtic, scoring three goals. Celtic finished as league runners-up that season.
Final Season at Brighton
Before the 2021–22 season, Brighton's manager said Duffy had done "really well" since returning from Celtic. Duffy played in all three pre-season friendly games. On 14 August, he played his first competitive game for Brighton since the 2019–20 season, helping them win 2–1 against Burnley. He scored in his first home game back at The Amex on 21 August, helping Brighton win 2–0 against Watford.
Moving to Fulham and Norwich City
On 5 August 2022, Duffy joined Fulham on a season-long loan from Brighton. He made his debut the next day. In February 2023, Duffy's move to Fulham was made permanent.
On 9 June 2023, Duffy signed for Championship club Norwich City on a free transfer. He signed a three-year deal, starting on 1 July 2023.
Playing for His Country
Northern Ireland Youth Teams
Duffy played for Northern Ireland at youth levels, starting from under-16. In 2008, he was called up to the Northern Ireland U20 squad. He was a regular for the U17 team and scored a penalty goal in a qualifying game.
At 17, Duffy was called up to the senior Northern Ireland team in June 2009 for a friendly match. Although he didn't play, his manager praised him. In August 2009, he made his Northern Ireland U21 debut, scoring in a 2–1 loss to Portugal. He also scored twice in a 4–0 win for the Northern Ireland U19 team in 2010.
Republic of Ireland Senior Team
Duffy chose to play for the Republic of Ireland, as he was eligible through his Irish nationality. He explained that it was a difficult decision to leave Northern Ireland, but he felt it was best for him to play for his own country.
In May 2010, Duffy was called up to a Republic of Ireland training camp. During the camp, he had a serious injury after colliding with a goalkeeper. He needed life-saving surgery but made a full recovery and returned to play within ten weeks. He continued to play for the Republic of Ireland under-19 and under-21 teams. In October 2011, he scored his first goal for the Republic of Ireland U21 team. He even captained the U21 side in 2013.
On 13 February 2012, Duffy was called up to the Republic of Ireland senior squad. He wanted to earn a place for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament but didn't make the final team. He received more call-ups in 2012 and 2014.
Duffy made his international debut for the senior team in June 2014 against Costa Rica. Two years later, he played against Switzerland and was named Man of the Match. He was selected for UEFA Euro 2016. In the final group game, Duffy played a heroic role in an important victory against Italy, helping the Republic of Ireland reach the last sixteen. He was sent off in the next game against France, as Ireland lost 2–1.
On 2 September 2017, Duffy scored his first goal for the Republic of Ireland in a 1–1 draw against Georgia. Two months later, he scored the opening goal in a World Cup Play-Off match against Denmark. On 7 June 2019, Duffy scored a late goal to secure a 1–1 draw against Denmark in a Euro 2020 qualifier. On 18 November 2019, he captained the Republic of Ireland for the first time.
He continued to captain the team in September 2020, scoring a late goal in a 1–1 draw against Bulgaria. Duffy made his 50th appearance for the Republic of Ireland on 11 November 2021. Three days later, he scored the opening goal in a 3–0 win against Luxembourg.
Personal Life
Shane Duffy is close friends with former teammate Darron Gibson. He attended St. Anne's school in Ireland and supported Celtic when he was growing up. Duffy has two children.
In May 2020, Duffy's father, Brian, passed away at the age of 53. This was a very difficult time for Shane.
Career Statistics
Club Appearances and Goals
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Everton | 2009–10 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12 | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2012–13 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15 | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | ||
| Burnley (loan) | 2010–11 | Championship | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||
| Scunthorpe United (loan) | 2011–12 | League One | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| Yeovil Town (loan) | 2013–14 | Championship | 37 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 39 | 1 | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2014–15 | Championship | 19 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | |
| 2015–16 | Championship | 41 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 42 | 4 | ||
| 2016–17 | Championship | 3 | 0 | — | 2 | 2 | — | 5 | 2 | |||
| Total | 63 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — | 69 | 7 | |||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2016–17 | Championship | 31 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | Premier League | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2018–19 | Premier League | 35 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 40 | 5 | ||
| 2019–20 | Premier League | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22 | Premier League | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 20 | 1 | ||
| Total | 140 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 150 | 9 | |||
| Celtic (loan) | 2020–21 | Scottish Premiership | 18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 27 | 3 |
| Fulham (loan) | 2022–23 | Premier League | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | |
| Fulham | 2022–23 | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | |
| Norwich City | 2023–24 | Championship | 36 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 1 |
| 2024–25 | Championship | 27 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 29 | 2 | ||
| Norwich City total | 63 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 69 | 3 | ||
| Career total | 350 | 22 | 20 | 0 | 10 | 2 | 11 | 0 | 391 | 24 | ||
International Appearances and Goals
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | 2014 | 1 | 0 |
| 2016 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2021 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 61 | 7 | |
- As of match played on 4 June 2024. Republic of Ireland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Duffy goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 September 2017 | Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia | 12 |  Georgia |
1–0 | 1–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 2 | 14 November 2017 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | 17 |  Denmark |
1–0 | 1–5 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification play-offs | |
| 3 | 7 June 2019 | Parken Stadium, Copenhagen, Denmark | 28 | Denmark |
1–1 | 1–1 | UEFA Euro 2020 qualification | |
| 4 | 3 September 2020 | Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria | 34 |  Bulgaria |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2020–21 UEFA Nations League B | |
| 5 | 4 September 2021 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | 46 |  Azerbaijan |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 6 | 12 October 2021 | Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland | 49 |  Qatar |
4–0 | 4–0 | Friendly | |
| 7 | 14 November 2021 | Stade de Luxembourg, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg | 51 |  Luxembourg |
1–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours and Awards
Brighton & Hove Albion
- EFL Championship runner-up: 2016–17 (meaning they finished second in the league)
Celtic
- Scottish Cup: 2019–20
Individual Awards
- FAI Senior International Player of the Year: 2017, 2018 (This award is given to the best senior international player from Ireland)
- Brighton & Hove Albion Player of the Season: 2018–19 (This award is given to the best player at Brighton for that season)
See also
In Spanish: Shane Duffy para niños
- List of Republic of Ireland international footballers born outside the Republic of Ireland
