Austin MacPhee was the man behind Aston Villa's unrivalled success from attacking set-pieces last season as Unai Emery's side scored more goals from dead-ball situations than any other team in Europe's top five leagues. Villa bagged 25 goals from set-plays, which was nearly 35 per cent of their total tally across the Premier League campaign. Signed in August 2021, MacPhee works meticulously at Bodymoor Heath alongside his analyst Jose Rodriguez Calvo to improve Villa's success from set-pieces.
MacPhee and Calvo are currently at Euro 2024 with Scotland, who have also seen the rewards from their work. The Tartan Army have scored 12 goals from set-pieces in 19 competitive games since MacPhee joined the set-up. READ | Jhon Duran to Chelsea transfer: Aston Villa reach decision in £40m deal READ | Aston Villa 'enquire' about £35m Chelsea defender as Jhon Duran transfer progresses “I think I was the third (set-piece coach in the Premier League) when I joined Aston Villa,” he told the Scotsman .
“Brentford and Arsenal already had a set-piece coach. I think there are now 13 in the league. Chelsea bought the one from Brentford for £750,000! "Manchester United’s set piece coach went straight from being the set-piece coach to the manager of Minnesota in MLS, so there is credibility in the role.
(Ange) Postecoglou is asked whether he wants one every time they (Spurs) lose a set piece. That speaks volumes. "Set pieces will be certainly secondary to team performance but they are .
