The Scottish set-piece expert behind Aston Villa's Europa League success
The moment Youri Tielemans's opening goal struck the net during Aston Villa's Europa League victory over Freiburg, every substitute from the Premier League club took turns to congratulate the individual behind the set-piece strategy that led to the goal.
Goalkeeper Emi Martínez chose to forgo celebrating with his outfield teammates and instead sprinted to the dugout to acknowledge Scottish coach Austin MacPhee.
Villa supporters chanted MacPhee's name as their team advanced to a 3-0 win in Istanbul.
Following the match, head coach Unai Emery described MacPhee as a
"fantastic creator". Striker Ollie Watkins praised his
"courage", while captain John McGinn referred to him as a
"great set-piece coach".
For some in Scottish football, where MacPhee faced limited recognition, this acclaim might seem surprising.
Nonetheless, his influence has been undeniable, playing a crucial role in Villa's achievements and potentially contributing to Portugal's international success this summer.
From his early days at Cupar Hearts and Cowdenbeath to involvement in the World Cup and Champions League, BBC Scotland traces MacPhee's remarkable journey.
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Austin MacPhee managed Hearts on an interim basis in late 2019, securing one win in six matches.
Known for his distinctive blonde hair reminiscent of Iggy Pop, MacPhee is easily identifiable when directing set-piece routines from the dugout.
His appearance may have contributed to some of the unfair criticism he endured during his tenure in Scotland, especially when serving as Hearts' caretaker manager and a candidate for the permanent role in 2019.
Michael O'Neill, who collaborated with MacPhee for six years during his time as Northern Ireland manager, anticipated such scrutiny and defended his assistant fervently.
"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,"O'Neill stated.
MacPhee was instrumental in Northern Ireland's historic qualification for Euro 2016 under O'Neill.
At that time, he was also part of Hearts' backroom staff while managing a sports travel company and a community football club.
Two years earlier, he had scouted for Mexico during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
His football career has been unconventional, spanning from Forfar Athletic's youth system to US college soccer with the Wilmington Seahawks, followed by stints in Romania and Japan.
His coaching path has also been atypical, beginning as manager of Cupar Hearts, leading them to the Scottish Amateur Cup final.
He spent a year at Midtjylland, a club renowned for set-piece expertise, after roles at Cowdenbeath, St Mirren, and Hearts in Scotland.
Although MacPhee left the Scottish domestic scene, he served three years with Steve Clarke's Scotland national team, aiding their qualification for Euro 2024.
During the finals in Germany, Clarke and MacPhee were involved in a pitchside disagreement, which the head coach downplayed, 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?
MacPhee joined Portugal's coaching staff under Roberto Martinez in February 2023, five months after stepping down from his Scotland role to care for his ill father.
His tenure at Villa Park remains his most notable success.
In the 2023-24 season, Aston Villa scored more goals from set-pieces than any other team in Europe's top five leagues.
The following season, only four clubs in those leagues surpassed their set-piece goal tally. In the most recent campaign, Villa matched Arsenal for the highest number of set-piece goals.
MacPhee's achievements stem from extensive experience and thorough preparation.
He dedicates hours to training and analysis, providing players with homework through animations and graphics delivered to their phones.
During the Europa League celebrations in Istanbul, Emery remarked:
"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 coach from Kirkcaldy may prove to be Portugal's most formidable asset at the World Cup, a unique distinction in football.
