Austin MacPhee's masterplan is about to go global – literally. The maverick set-piece specialist has traded in his Villa Park badge for a spot on Portugal's World Cup coaching team, and it's a move that's got fans buzzing with excitement.
The stats are staggering: under MacPhee's guidance at Aston Villa, the club scored more goals from dead-ball situations than any other top-five league team in Europe – twice! They've been unbeatable when it comes to conjuring up magic from set-pieces. Unai Emery and his players sing MacPhee's praises, crediting him with unlocking their full potential on the big stage.
MacPhee's career path has been a wild ride. From his early days as Cupar Hearts manager in Scotland's amateur ranks to US college football, Romania, Japan – and even a stint as a scout for Mexico at the 2014 World Cup! – he's clocked up an incredible array of experiences that have honed his coaching acumen.
The Northern Ireland national team, under Michael O'Neill, benefited from MacPhee's expertise in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign. Later, as part of Steve Clarke's Scotland setup, he played a pivotal role in securing qualification for Euro 2024 – despite that fiery on-field disagreement with the referee.
Now, as Roberto Martinez's trusted lieutenant at Portugal, MacPhee brings his unique blend of tactical nous and innovative flair to the table. Expect hours of intense training sessions, meticulous analysis in the suites, and an endless stream of animated tutorials sent straight to players' phones – because when it comes to set-piece mastery, MacPhee is the maestro.
The Aston Villa squad knew they were onto something special whenever MacPhee's plans came into play. Take that unforgettable Europa League victory over Freiburg, for instance, where Youri Tielemans' set-piece thunderbolt sparked a frenzied celebration from players and fans alike – with goalkeeper Emi Martinez racing to the dugout to pay homage to the man behind it all.