Chelsea Poach Highly-Regarded Set-Piece Coach Austin MacPhee from Aston Villa

Chelsea have dealt Aston Villa a significant blow this summer — not in the transfer market, but in the coaching department. Austin MacPhee is leaving his role as Aston Villa’s set-piece coach to join Chelsea, with the Scotsman having said his goodbyes to the staff and players. Chelsea activated a release clause in MacPhee’s contract, and Villa’s attempts at a renewal failed courtesy of the 46-year-old wanting to take on a new challenge.

Move at a Glance

Who is Austin MacPhee?

Born on 11 October 1979 in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, Austin MacPhee developed a passion for football at a young age. He began his journey with Forfar Athletic’s youth team but didn’t make it to the first team. Seeking broader horizons, MacPhee moved to the United States at 20, playing college soccer for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks from 1999 to 2002.

His professional playing career included stints with Dacia Unirea Brăila in Romania and FC Kariya in Japan, where he honed his skills and gained international experience.

After retiring as a player, MacPhee founded AM Soccer Club, a charitable organisation providing football coaching to over 500 players. The club earned national recognition, winning the “Legacy Award” and producing numerous talents for professional academies and Scottish Performance Schools.

MacPhee has a reputation for his work with set pieces, which he was first given responsibility for by Northern Ireland national team head coach Michael O’Neill. This led to MacPhee’s appointment as a specialist set-piece coach with Danish Superliga side Midtjylland, who are famed for their focus in this area.

Career Timeline

Five Years at Aston Villa

MacPhee joined Villa in August 2021 during Dean Smith’s time as head coach. He remained at the club under Steven Gerrard and later became an important member of Emery’s coaching staff.

At Aston Villa, his set-piece innovations were pivotal, helping the team score over 20 goals from set plays in the 2023–24 season — the first European club to achieve this milestone by March 2024 — and contributing to their qualification for the 2024–25 UEFA Champions League.

Last season, Aston Villa — along with Arsenal — scored the most goals (29) from set pieces across Europe.

His status at Villa Park went beyond mere statistics. Goalkeeper Emi Martínez chose not to celebrate with his outfield team-mates, instead racing over to the dugout to show his appreciation to MacPhee. Villa fans were heard chanting his name as their heroes on the pitch closed in on a 3-0 victory in Istanbul. Post-match, head coach Unai Emery labelled the Scot a “fantastic creator.” Striker Ollie Watkins hailed his “courage,” and captain John McGinn described his countryman as a “great set-piece coach.”

Villa’s Set-Piece Record Under MacPhee

International Career: Northern Ireland, Scotland & Portugal

MacPhee’s credentials span multiple national teams across his career.

In 2014, MacPhee joined the Northern Ireland national team as an assistant coach. His expertise in set-piece strategies contributed to the team’s success, including their memorable run to the Round of 16 in the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament.

MacPhee expanded his international experience by joining the Scotland national team’s coaching staff in 2021. He played a pivotal role during Euro 2024 but stepped down in October 2024 to focus on family and club commitments.

In February 2025, MacPhee embraced a new challenge by joining Roberto Martinez’s coaching staff for the Portugal national team. He also held a role with the Portuguese national team as part of Roberto Martinez’s staff, although with the Spaniard’s departure, he will now focus on his club career.

How Chelsea Got Their Man

Chelsea are looking to add a new face to Xabi Alonso’s backroom team as he prepares for a debut Premier League season in charge at Stamford Bridge. Alonso has brought in four new coaches — all Spanish and previous colleagues of the former midfielder — with Alberto Encinas, Beñat Labaien, Luis Llopis and Miguel Muñoz making a summer move to London.

Alongside bolstering his playing squad, Alonso wanted more Premier League experience on his bench and Aston Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee was on his radar.

Before Chelsea came calling, MacPhee had drawn interest from another Premier League club and Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. Villa tried to keep him. They couldn’t.

The Blues want the best possible options for Xabi Alonso to succeed next season, and the coach’s arrival will add an edge to their performances.

Although Chelsea left for Australia for the start of their pre-season tour, the expectation will be that MacPhee will now link up with the group.

A Big Blow for Aston Villa

It is a big blow for Villa, who have held MacPhee’s work in high regard throughout his five-year spell at the club.

Austin MacPhee leaves Aston Villa after helping the club become one of Europe’s most productive set-piece teams. His departure represents another major change at Villa Park during a busy summer.

Replacing a coach who has spent half a decade embedding routines and building relationships with players isn’t like swapping out a plug-and-play assistant.

Chelsea’s pursuit of MacPhee is the latest development in a busy summer of business between the two clubs. First, it was the Blues who signed Morgan Rogers in a £117 million deal, beating Arsenal in the race for the England international. Shortly after, Aston Villa agreed a deal with Chelsea for Alejandro Garnacho and took the winger on loan with a conditional obligation to buy inserted into the deal.

Chelsea & Aston Villa’s Summer Business Together

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