Despite winning the Club World Cup in impressive fashion under Enzo Maresca’s guidance, Chelsea’s 2025/26 season ended up being a massive disappointment. They ended the campaign 10th in the Premier League, having changed managers twice during the year.
Heading into next year, the club are looking to get back on track, and have entrusted Xabi Alonso with the keys to their rebuild. The Blues have also improved their squad with a number of high-profile signings over the summer, securing the services of stars such as Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix, Marco Palestra, Geovany Quenda and Emmanuel Emegha.
In addition to new players, they have also secured the services of some important technical staff, the most notable of which is the acquisition of set-piece coach Austin MacPhee.
While a large chunk of the fanbase would probably never have heard of MacPhee before, he is actually regarded as one of the best in the business at his role, and possesses plenty of top-level experience.
Last season, he was part of Unai Emery’s coaching staff at Aston Villa, and played an important role in their success, as the Birmingham club won the Europa League and finished fourth in the Premiership.
Having joined Aston Villa in 2021, MacPhee spent 5 years there, markedly improving the team’s potency from set-piece situations, while also helping them concede much less from free kicks and corners at the other end.
In the 2025/26 season, Villa scored 29 goals from set plays in all competitions. This was the joint-most in Europe, alongside Premier League champions and UEFA Champions League finalists Arsenal.
Chelsea were so keen on securing his services that they allegedly ended up paying his release clause to convince him to leave his role at Villa Park. In addition to the West Londoners, MacPhee had reportedly also attracted interest from another Premier League club and reigning Saudi Pro League champions Al Nassr.
If some Chelsea fans are wondering if they spotted MacPhee recently in action then they wouldn’t be wrong.
In addition to his club-level commitments, Austin MacPhee also actively coaches in the international circuit, working as the set piece coach for the Portuguese national team. Fans keeping up with the FIFA World Cup action over the summer would have spotted him in the team’s dugout, working under head coach Roberto Martinez.
At the World Cup, Portugal scored two goals from a non-penalty set piece situation. Both came in their 5-0 thrashing of Uzbekistan, as Nuno Mendes scored a superb free kick after a clever dummy from Cristiano Ronaldo, before a well-worked corner routine led to the game’s fourth goal.
On the opposite end, they conceded one from the phase of play that took place right after a set piece. Unfortunately for the Portuguese, it was the goal that ended up knocking them out of the tournament in the Round of 16, as Mikel Merino scored a late winner after Spain executed a rehearsed training-ground routine from a short corner.
Overall, MacPhee left a great impression amongst his colleagues at the World Cup. In an interview with The Athletic, Roberto Martinez commended his quality, explaining the skills which make him so good at his role.
“The players are obsessed about improving, and set pieces are an obsession for Austin,” said Martinez after the win over Uzbekistan. “He’s great in set routines, set pieces. It’s important to acknowledge all the work he has carried out. It can actually be boring to practice, to focus, but he’s amazing. Both set-piece goals we scored were executed perfectly.
“Austin is very creative and transmits passion for his work. He’s got a real knack to connect with the player and that’s what makes him so good at his job.”
Before his time with the Euro 2016 champions, MacPhee represented his home country, Scotland, spending three years working under Steve Clark from 2021 to 2024.
Last season, Chelsea scored 21 goals from set-piece situations, while conceding 19. With Austin MacPhee’s arrival, fans will expect to see substantial improvement on both fronts.
