Austin MacPhee, the set-piece wizard who's been conjuring up magic at Aston Villa, has now cast his spell on the international stage! The Scottish coaching ace has joined forces with Roberto Martínez's Portugal squad in their quest for World Cup glory. And what a masterstroke it is – MacPhee brings his unparalleled expertise in crafting set-piece mayhem to the biggest of stages.
MacPhee's influence at Villa Park was simply electric, particularly during their Europa League campaign where his meticulously crafted set-pieces sparked goals galore! The proof was in the pudding when Youri Tielemans' opener against Freiburg came courtesy of a MacPhee-ordinated set-piece. Even Emi Martínez and other Villa stars couldn't help but nod in acknowledgement to MacPhee's masterful touch on the sidelines. Unai Emery hailed him as a "fantastic creator", while captain John McGinn praised his set-piece coaching skills, testament to the high esteem in which he's held by the Villa faithful.
But what makes MacPhee tick? His unconventional journey is a fascinating tale of twists and turns. From Cupar Hearts in Scottish amateur football to stints with Cowdenbeath, Hearts, and even a stint scouting for Mexico at the 2014 World Cup, his background is as varied as it is impressive. And then there's that unmistakable mane of blonde hair – a trademark that's left an indelible mark on the game!
MacPhee's numbers are simply staggering: in the 2023-24 season, Aston Villa scored more goals from set-pieces than any other club in Europe's top five leagues. Even when his tally dipped slightly in subsequent seasons, they remained among the elite, matching Arsenal for set-piece goals in their latest campaign. The secret to his success? A rigorous methodology that involves hours of training pitch time, meticulous analysis, and even sending 'homework' in the form of animated tactical graphics straight to players' phones!
MacPhee's international pedigree is equally impressive – he played a key role in Northern Ireland's historic Euro 2016 qualification and later worked with Scotland. His move to Portugal in February last year marked a new chapter, one that was made all the more poignant by his decision to step down from Scotland to care for his ailing father. Now, as Portugal prepare for the World Cup, MacPhee's set-piece wizardry could be the difference between victory and defeat.