Michael Duff

Michael James Duff (born 11 January 1978) is a Northern Irish professional football manager and former player who is head coach of League One club Wycombe Wanderers.

In a professional playing career spanning from 1996 to 2016, in which he made over 600 appearances, Duff played as a defender for Cheltenham Town, Cirencester Town (on loan) and Burnley, winning three Premier League promotions with the latter. He played in each of the top eight tiers of English football in ascending order. At international level, Duff earned 24 caps for Northern Ireland.

After retiring as a player, Duff coached at Burnley's academy before becoming manager of Cheltenham Town in 2018. In 2021, he led Cheltenham to their first automatic promotion from League Two as champions. He was appointed head coach of Barnsley in 2022, leading them to the League One play-off final in his first season. One month later, Duff was named head coach of Swansea City before being dismissed in December 2023. He joined Huddersfield Town a year later before becoming head coach of Wycombe Wanderers in 2025.

Early life Duff was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1978. They settled in Bedale, North Yorkshire for six years, where Duff attended secondary school.

Playing career Cheltenham Town At 16 years old, Duff played for Carterton Town and was spotted by Cheltenham Town scout Derek Bragg. Duff attended a trial at Cheltenham before making several appearances for their first team in the Southern League. On 13 February 2002, Duff earned his first international cap for Northern Ireland, playing the final nine minutes of a 4–1 friendly loss to Poland in Cyprus. Cheltenham were relegated the following season, but were subsequently promoted back to the Third Division. The injury caused him to miss five months of football, but he returned at the end of the season.

Burnley were relegated in 2010, but Duff remained with the team. They were promoted again in 2014 before suffering another relegation the following year. Duff retired from playing professionally at the end of the 2015–16 season, aged 38, having helped Burnley win the Championship title and promotion back to the Premier League. As a result, he became the second footballer, after Neil Clement of West Bromwich Albion, to be promoted to the Premier League on three occasions with the same club.

Duff made more than 300 appearances for Burnley. He also worked with Burnley's first-team, travelling with the squad to several UEFA Europa League matches in 2018.

On 10 September 2018, Duff was appointed manager of Cheltenham Town in League Two, his first managerial position. His first win was a 6–2 victory over Arsenal's under-21s in the EFL Trophy. In his second season, Duff won the League Two Manager of the Month award for September 2019 and February 2020. He won the award in February after Cheltenham achieved 18 points from 21, with the club sitting in fifth place and four points from automatic promotion. They led City 1–0 before conceding three goals in the final 10 minutes. Duff was named the League Two Manager of the Season and Cheltenham finished the season as champions.

Duff then led the club to their highest-ever finish in the Football League at the end of the 2021–22 season; a 15th-placed finish in League One. In June 2022, after nearly four years at the club, Duff informed Cheltenham that he wished to depart for new opportunities.

Barnsley On 15 June 2022, Duff was appointed head coach of recently relegated League One side Barnsley on a three-year deal. Duff won the League One Manager of the Month award for November 2022, with Barnsley winning both of their two league games during the month. He won the award for a second consecutive month after ten points from four matches saw the club rise to fourth in the table.

Duff won the award again in February 2023, with Barnsley having gained 16 points from six matches and remained unbeaten throughout the month. He led the club to the play-off final at the end of the season, losing 1–0 to Sheffield Wednesday in extra time.

Swansea City Duff was named head coach of Championship club Swansea City on 22 June 2023. He signed a three-year deal, with Barnsley being paid compensation. His debut on 5 August was a 1–1 draw at home to Birmingham City; Tom Coleman of Walesonline praised him for using different tactics to predecessor Russell Martin. Swansea took three points from a seven-game winless run at the start of the season before defeating Sheffield Wednesday 3–0 at the Swansea.com Stadium on 23 September; this was the first of four wins in a row, followed by one win in eight for the rest of his tenure. The club dismissed Duff on 4 December 2023.

Huddersfield Town On 13 May 2024, Duff was appointed head coach of newly relegated EFL League One club Huddersfield Town on a three-year contract. His team went unbeaten for 16 games between October and January, rising from 15th to 4th.

Wycombe Wanderers On 18 September 2025, Duff was appointed as the head coach of Wycombe Wanderers, who were 19th in EFL League One after the dismissal of Mike Dodds.

Personal life Duff has two sons with his wife Jess, who is from Cheltenham. He settled his family in the town and remained living there while manager of Barnsley, 150 miles away.

Career statistics Club

International

Managerial statistics

Honours As a player Cheltenham Town Football League Third Division play-offs: 2002 Football Conference: 1998–99 FA Trophy: 1997–98

Burnley Football League Championship: 2015–16; runner-up: 2013–14; play-offs: 2009

Individual PFA Team of the Year: 2001–02 Third Division

Individual EFL League Two Manager of the Season: 2020–21 February 2020