The Scottish set-piece guru plotting Portugal’s World Cup glory

June 17, 2026 No Comments

The Scottish set-piece guru plotting Portugal’s World Cup gloryImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Austin MacPhee has been integral to the success of Europa League winners Aston VillaByNick McPheatBBC Sport ScotlandPublished45 minutes agoThe moment Youri Tielemans’s opener burst the net in Aston Villa’s Europa League triumph against Freiburg, each of the Premier League side’s substitutes took a turn to embrace the man responsible for orchestrating another set-piece goal.Goalkeeper Emi Martínez chose not to celebrate with his outfield team-mates, instead racing over to the dugout to also show his appreciation to Scottish coach Austin MacPhee.Villa fans were heard chanting the name of the 46-year-old 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”. Captain John McGinn described his countryman as a “great set-piece coach”.For some within Scottish football, where MacPhee did not get much love, this might feel like a bit of a fever dream.But there is simply no denying his impact, which has been integral to Villa’s success and could also influence glory on the international scene for Portugal this summer.From Cupar Hearts and Cowdenbeath to the World Cup and Champions League, BBC Scotland charts MacPhee’s remarkable rise.Fifa World Cup 2026: What you need to know about Portugal

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Austin MacPhee — Image caption,

Austin MacPhee won one of six games in interim charge of Hearts in late 2019

With blonde locks Iggy Pop would be proud of, MacPhee stands out when he rises from the dugout to choreograph a set-piece situation.

His appearance was perhaps a reason why he was the subject of unfair criticism during his time in Scotland, particularly when he was Hearts caretaker manager and in the frame to take the full-time position in 2019.

Michael O’Neill, who worked with MacPhee for six years during his time as Northern Ireland boss, feared such scrutiny and passionately defended his then assistant.

“Austin brings a high level of knowledge on the opposition, a creative way to train and he’s creative in how he brings information to the players,” he reported.

MacPhee was a vital part of Northern Ireland’s historic Euro 2016 qualification under O’Neill.

At that point, the coach was also working in Hearts’ backroom team while running a sports travel firm and a community football club.

Two years before, he was scouting for Mexico at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Clearly, this is no ordinary football career, if there is ever such a thing.

A peculiar journey as a player took him from Forfar Athletic’s youth set-up to US college football with the Wilmington Seahawks, then on to Romania and finally Japan.

His time as a coach has also been far from traditional, starting as manager of Cupar Hearts and guiding them to the Scottish Amateur Cup final.

A year at Midtjylland – a club that has become a hotbed for set-piece experts – followed his spells in Scotland with Cowdenbeath, St Mirren and Hearts.

Although MacPhee exited the Scottish domestic game, he would have a three-year stint with Steve Clarke’s national side, helping them qualify for Euro 2024.

Clarke and MacPhee were involved in a pitchside argument during the finals in Germany. The head coach glossed over the incident by saying: “He’s got long blonde hair, but I’m not going to give him a cuddle.”

Is MacPhee the key to Portugal’s potential World Cup triumph?

Cristiano Ronaldo and Austin MacPhee — Image caption,

Portugal coach Austin MacPhee will be hoping to get the best out of Cristiano Ronaldo at dead-ball situations this summer

MacPhee joined Roberto Martinez’s Portugal staff in February last year, five months after reluctantly stepping down from his role with Scotland to look after his ill father.

It is his five years at Villa Park that have undoubtedly brought him his greatest success, though.

Villa scored more goals from set-pieces than any other side in Europe’s top five leagues in 2023-24.

The following season, only four clubs in those five divisions bettered their tally. In the most recent campaign, they were level with Arsenal for the most set-piece goals.

MacPhee has achieved those staggering results through years of experience and meticulous preparation.

Hours are spent on the training pitch and in analysis suites, and players are given homework in the form of animations and graphics sent to their phones.

Amid the Europa League celebrations in Istanbul, Emery reported: “We work on everything so hard and everything makes sense.

“Congratulations to Austin too, he’s very good at his job and we work very closely. He has so much experience and we know exactly what we are doing.”

A long-haired lad from Kirkcaldy might just prove to be the most lethal weapon at a World Cup. Not sure that has ever been reported before, or will be reported again.

Related topics

Scotland Sport
Scottish Football
Scotland Men’s Football Team
FIFA World Cup 2026
Football
Aston Villa
Portugal

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