Aston Villa's influence is extending well beyond the Premier League this summer, with set-piece specialist Austin MacPhee attracting attention during Portugal's preparations for the World Cup.
The highly regarded coach has become an increasingly important figure within Roberto Martinez's backroom team and is reportedly playing a prominent role as Portugal fine-tune their plans ahead of the tournament.
While much of the focus naturally falls on the players during international camps, reports from Portugal suggest MacPhee's work behind the scenes has not gone unnoticed.
MacPhee playing key role in Portugal preparations
According to Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Portugal's training sessions have heavily focused on attacking play, finishing and set-piece situations during the opening stages of their World Cup preparations.
MacPhee has reportedly been one of the most active members of the coaching staff throughout those sessions.
The Scot continues to combine his responsibilities with both Portugal and Aston Villa, where he remains a trusted member of Unai Emery's coaching team.
As preparations intensify, Portugal have been testing multiple dead-ball routines designed to maximise their effectiveness during the tournament.
That area of the game has become MacPhee's speciality.
Aston Villa numbers highlight his impact
A Bola points to Aston Villa’s impressive set-piece record during the 2025/26 campaign as evidence of MacPhee’s growing reputation.
Villa scored 18 goals from set-piece situations across all competitions, excluding penalties.
Those goals accounted for 32 per cent of the club’s overall total, underlining how valuable dead-ball situations have become under Emery’s management.
Having followed Villa’s development under Emery, their ability to consistently create chances from corners, free-kicks and wide deliveries has become one of the defining features of the team.
MacPhee’s contribution has been widely recognised internally and is now attracting greater attention internationally.
| Aston Villa Set-Piece Record 2025/26 | Statistics |
|---|---|
| Set-Piece Goals | 18 |
| Percentage of Total Goals | 32% |
| Manager | Unai Emery |
| Set-Piece Coach | Austin MacPhee |
Source: reported club statistics – 2025/26 season
The figures help explain why Portugal are leaning heavily on his expertise.
Specialist methods attracting attention
One notable detail from Portugal's training sessions has been the use of advanced equipment designed to replicate match situations.
Reports suggest the national team are using mechanical walls that rise to simulate defensive jumps during free-kick practice, helping players prepare for realistic scenarios.
Set-piece routines have reportedly featured in every training session so far.
MacPhee's influence is particularly evident in these drills, with the coach overseeing a variety of attacking patterns and tactical variations.
His reputation in this area has steadily grown over the years following previous roles with Northern Ireland and Danish club Midtjylland before joining Aston Villa.
Key Points
- Austin MacPhee is playing a prominent role in Portugal's World Cup preparations.
- The Aston Villa coach specialises in set-piece situations.
- Villa scored 18 set-piece goals during the 2025/26 season.
- Those goals represented 32% of the club's total output.
- Portugal have incorporated set-piece work into every training session.
What’s next?
Portugal will continue refining their tactical plans as the World Cup approaches, with MacPhee expected to remain heavily involved in preparations.
For Aston Villa, his growing reputation at international level serves as further recognition of the specialist expertise within Emery's coaching staff. The challenge now is whether Portugal can translate that preparation into success when the tournament begins.
Could Austin MacPhee's set-piece expertise become a decisive factor in Portugal's World Cup campaign this summer?
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