Stuart Duff

Football player infobox
playername = Stuart Duff


fullname = Stuart Duff
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1982|1|23|df=y
cityofbirth = Aberdeen
countryofbirth = Scotland
height = height|ft=5|in=10
currentclub = Aberdeen
clubnumber = 16
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 1998–1999
youthclubs = Dundee United
years = 1999–2008
2008–
clubs = Dundee United
Aberdeen
caps(goals) = 122 (3)
012 (0)
nationalyears = 2002–2003
nationalteam = Scotland under-21
nationalcaps(goals) = 010 (0)
pcupdate = 11:38, 24 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 17:18, 28 May 2008 (UTC)

Stuart Duff (born January 23, 1982 in Aberdeen) is a Scottish footballer who plays for his hometown club Aberdeen. He is primarily a right midfielder although his very versatility has seen him play in most defensive and midfield positions.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/7182703.stm| title=Duff set to sign on at Pittodrie|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=2008-01-17]

Career

Dundee United

Having been developed as a player through Dundee United's youth scheme, he turned professional with the club in July 1999. He was given his debut by then-manager Alex Smith in December 2001, when he was used as a right wing back in a match at Kilmarnock, and went on to make nine appearances that season, collecting the April 'Young Player of the Month' award. [cite web|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20080205182504/http://www.scotprem.premiumtv.co.uk/page/Awards/0,,10002,00.html|title=SPL monthly awards|publisher=Scotprem.com|accessdate=2008-08-24] In 2002-03, Duff had his best run of league games, playing 34 times. When Ian McCall was appointed at the start of the 2003-04 season, Duff found himself more often as a substitute, playing in just 18 league games. During that season, Duff was part of the Scotland under-21 side that narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, with Scotland losing to Croatia in the play-off.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/scotland/3279791.stm|title=Young Scots make brave exit|date=2003-11-18|publisher=BBC Sport website] The following season, Duff played 25 league games, earning him a new three-year contract in March 2005.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/4249705.stm|title=Duff agrees new United contract|date=2005-03-30|publisher=BBC Sport website] Shortly afterwards, Duff was part of the United side that lost narrowly to Celtic in the Scottish Cup final, with his 83rd-minute substitute appearance earning him a runners-up medal.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/4586123.stm|title=Celtic 1-0 Dundee United|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=2005-05-28]

In 2005-06, with Gordon Chisholm the new manager, Duff played more first team games, with 29 league appearances. During February 2006, Duff alleged he was spat on by Hearts midfielder Rudi Skacel,cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/dundee_utd/4694108.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=2006-02-10|title=Skacel spit claim is not pursued] a claim repeated two months later by Celtic captain Neil Lennon.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4962096.stm|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=2006-05-01|title=Lennon and Skacel row over spit] No action was taken against Skacel in either incident. Duff scored an important goal in the 1-0 win over Rangers at Ibrox during the season, which helped United avoid relegation. Duff started the 2006/07 season as an attacking midfielder under Craig Brewster and scored once, although was used in a variety of defensive roles under Craig Levein.

On the 29 December 2006, Duff appeared before the Sheriff Court in Dundee and admitted to driving under the influence of alcohol on 17 December. He was fined £750 and banned from driving for 15 months.cite news|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2006/12/29/newsstory9112373t0.asp|title=Drunken player's 'fall from grace'|publisher=The Courier|date=2006-12-29]

Aberdeen

In January 2008, Levein told Duff he was free to leave Tannadice and find himself a new club, and he was released on 17 January,cite web|url=http://www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk/|title=Stuart Duff released|publisher=Dundee United FC|date=2008-01-17] after playing 170 games for the club, scoring four times. Duff began training with fellow SPL side Aberdeen and a short-term move to his hometown club was confirmed the following day, seeing him become the third player to move from Tannadice to Pittodrie in eighteen months, following Lee Millercite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/5295368.stm| title=Dons take Miller from Dundee Utd|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=2006-08-31] and Lee Mair.cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/6447403.stm| title=Mair completes Pittodrie switch|publisher=BBC Sport website|date=2007-05-01] Within six weeks of arriving, however, Duff was one of several players manager Jimmy Calderwood threatened to release at the end of the season, due to the club's poor performances.cite news|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/spl/Calderwood-plans-39major--rebuilding39.3813899.jp|publisher=The Scotsman|date=2008-02-26|author=Wright, Angus|title=Calderwood plans 'major rebuilding'] In May 2008, Duff signed a two-year contract extension with the Pittodrie side. [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/7423908.stm|title=Duff signs new deal at Pittodrie|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=May 28|accessyear=2008]

Honours

Dundee United

*

References

External links

*

ee also

* Dundee United F.C. season 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08
* Aberdeen F.C. season 2007-08

Persondata
NAME=Duff, Stuart
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Footballer
DATE OF BIRTH=23 January, 1982
PLACE OF BIRTH=Aberdeen, Scotland
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=