Chelsea are in advanced talks to sign Aston Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee, though the 46-year-old Scottish coach also faces competition from Premier League rivals and Saudi Pro League teams. MacPhee has spent five years at Villa Park alongside his duties with the Portugal national team.
Chelsea’s ongoing recruitment drive has turned toward the touchline with discussions underway to secure the services of Aston Villa set-piece specialist Austin MacPhee. The move would bring an experienced tactician to Stamford Bridge under new management, though Chelsea face competition from other Premier League clubs as well as Saudi Pro League teams for his signature.
Villa Park Exit and Release Clause Details
MacPhee is on the verge of ending a five-year spell at Villa Park, having originally joined the club during Dean Smith’s tenure back in August 2021. Villa would be due compensation for the departure, as his contract is understood to have a specified release clause. The coach has already said his goodbyes to his Aston Villa colleagues, marking a significant departure for Unai Emery’s backroom setup.
During his time at Villa, MacPhee also combined his club duties with a similar position for the Portugal national team under Roberto Martinez, who resigned after the World Cup. His departure follows a period of immense success for the Birmingham club, which included winning the Europa Conference League and securing qualification for the Champions League under Emery.
Set-Piece Pedigree That Attracted Chelsea
The pursuit is underpinned by remarkable statistical success on dead-ball situations. Under MacPhee’s guidance, Villa scored more goals from set-pieces than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues during the 2023-24 season. They followed that performance by ranking among the top five a season later and finished joint-top with Arsenal in the Premier League.
Xabi Alonso’s new coaching staff is looking to tighten up a backline that conceded 11 goals from set pieces last season.
Backroom Restructuring at Stamford Bridge
Previous set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva, who arrived from Brentford for £750,000 in 2024, is moving away from a touchline role and into a more behind-the-scenes position. Cueva was removed from his primary role by Alonso, opening the vacancy that MacPhee is now poised to fill.
Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117m, with Alejandro Garnacho moving in the opposite direction on an initial loan featuring an option to buy.
Worth a look
