出自官網和 4 the game


           Born: Ballyboden, Ireland - 02 Mar 1979  (24)

    Nationality: Rep of Ireland

Date of Signing: 21/ 07/ 2003

         Height: 1.78m

         Weight: 60.38kg

 Previous Clubs: Blackburn Rovers

          Value: ￡17,000,000






     Duff burst onto the scene after rising through the ranks of the
Blackburn squad, but it wasn't until Jason Wilcox departed for Leeds that
he really fulfilled the potential he has always shown.


     The young winger's performances back in the Premiership were
impressive enough to spark frequent speculation about just how long he
will remain at Blackburn, with the big guns all apparently interested in
acquiring him.


     His stock rose further with his performances in the 2002 World Cup,
where he was utilised by Mick McCarthy as a forward, supporting Robbie
Keane and providing constant darting runs at the opposition defences. The
scintillating displays by Duff on the world's biggest stage made it even
harder for Rovers to hold onto him for much longer.


     An inspired 2002/03 season despite nagging injuries seemed to have
sealed him a move to a bigger club and with Liverpool and Manchester
United both sniffing around him near the end of the campaign, it looked
like he had played his last game for the club.


     However, both were put off by the prohibitive ￡17m Rovers insisted
on for him, and as the summer progressed, it seemed less likely that he
would be leaving. That all changed when Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea
and gave them the kind of spending power most clubs can only dream of.


     In July 2003, Rovers accepted Chelsea's fourth bid in a week, and
Duff eventually decided to leave the North West and move to the bright
lights of London.