Latest news with #AustinMacPhee
Scotsman
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Newcastle swoop for Hibs Euro rivals set-piece guru
Dane follows in footsteps of former Hearts coach MacPhee Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Hibs Euro opponents FC Midtjylland have confirmed the departure of a key figure in the club's coaching staff, as set-piece expert Martin Mark moves to big-spending Premier League giants Newcastle United. But the Danes have already got a replacement in situ to cover for the departing guru. Mark, who joined the club as under-15s coach in 2017, has been responsible for set pieces with the first team since 2022. In moving on to the world's richest league, he follows the trail blazed by two of his predecessors – including a former Hearts boss. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One-time interim Tynecastle gaffer Austin MacPhee, now set-piece coach for Aston Villa and Portugal, was with Midtjylland for a season. He also served as Scotland's set-piece expert under Steve Clarke before taking the Portuguese job. Mads Buttgereit also moved on from the role with Midtjylland, taking on a similar position with the Danish national side. He's now in charge of set pieces for the German senior men's team. Sporting director hails 'culture and environment' The club's sporting director, Kristian Bach Back, said: 'We are happy to be able to attach a capacity like Morten. He comes with great experience, strong leadership skills and an analytical eye for the details of the game - not least on set pieces. 'Morten already has a good knowledge of many of our young players through the national teams, and he fits well into our culture and the way we work in everyday life. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We have set pieces as a strategic focus area, and this has yielded concrete results on the pitch - and off. The fact that Mads Buttgereit, Austin MacPhee and now Martin Mark have become attractive profiles in international football says a lot about our approach and the environment we provide for specialists. 'It is a strong testament to the culture and environment we have created at FC Midtjylland that we are once again sending a talented specialist on to one of the world's biggest leagues. Martin is a product of our way of working - both as a coach and as a person - and we are proud that he is now getting the opportunity in the Premier League.' Danes in free-scoring form as new striker hits net Midtjylland continue to show good scoring form, meanwhile, as they build towards the Danish Superliga kick-off before welcoming Hibs to Herning for the first leg of their Europa League second qualifying round tie on July 24. They beat Ukrainian champions Dynamo Kyiv in a friendly this week. Coach Thomas Thomason was pleased to see new signing Friday Etim find the net, the Nigerian – a summer signing – looking increasingly at ease in his new surroundings. And top goal threat Franculino Dju scored his fourth goal in just three games, despite only playing for 45 minutes against Dynamo. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hibs are back in action next week when they travel to Bournemouth for a mini-camp including a closed-doors friendly with the Premier League side, owned by Easter Road minority investor Bill Foley's Black Knight group. They then face Bolton Wanderers in a home friendly before travelling to Denmark Midtjylland kick off their domestic season against Odense Boldklub at the MCH Arena on July 20, just four days before welcoming David Gray's side, who have a clear run at both legs of their European tie – the second game is in Edinburgh on July 31 – before their first Scottish Premiership fixture, away to Dundee on August 3.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
MacPhee understudy Grant joins Hearts as set-play coach
Hearts have appointed Ross Grant as their first set-play sporting director Graeme Jones highlighted the desire for a dedicated set-piece coach, the Tynecastle club have appointed Grant from Dundee coached in the professional phase of the Tannadice club's academy, and brings 15 years of experience to was general manager at former Hearts interim boss Austin MacPhee's 'AM Soccer Club' before providing support to MacPhee in his set-piece roles with Aston Villa and the Scotland national says his understanding of set-piece "importance" has developed from working with last season's Scottish Premiership, Hearts had eight goals assisted via a set-piece. Motherwell had the most with Blair Spittal created 23 chances from set-pieces - the most by any Hearts player - while United's Will Ferry created the most in the league with is "excited to develop innovation and creativity" from set-pieces."I had a good conversation with Graeme Jones about integrating set-play coaching into the club," he said."I'll look to provide clarity, but I'm also excited to develop innovation and creativity about how we make set-pieces more successful in both attacking and defensive terms."I'm looking forward to working with the new management team ahead of the new season."
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Scotland assistant MacPhee joins Portugal set-up
Aston Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee has joined Portugal manager Roberto Martinez's coaching staff. The 45-year-old previously worked as Scotland manager Steve Clarke's assistant for three years but reluctantly stepped down from the role in September 2024 because of his father's illness. The Scot - who has also worked with Northern Ireland, Hearts and Midtjylland - now returns to the international scene, replacing Anthony Barry, who joined England as Thomas Tuchel's assistant. He will continue in his role at Villa, only linking up with Martinez's team during international windows. Portugal's next match is against Denmark in next month's Nations League quarter-finals.
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Former Scotland assistant MacPhee joins Portugal set-up
Aston Villa set-piece coach Austin MacPhee has joined Portugal manager Roberto Martinez's coaching 45, previously worked as Scotland manager Steve Clarke's assistant for three years but reluctantly stepped down from the role in September 2024 because of his father's illness. The Scot - who has also worked with Northern Ireland, Hearts and FC Midtjylland - now returns to the international scene, replacing Anthony Barry, who recently joined England as Thomas Tuchel's will continue in his role at Villa, only linking up with Martinez's team during international next match is against Denmark in next month's Nations League quarter-finals.
New York Times
12-02-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Aston Villa's Austin MacPhee appointed Portugal assistant coach
Austin MacPhee has landed a new role as the assistant coach of Portugal, which he will combine with his current position as Aston Villa set piece coach. MacPhee previously combined his position at Villa with a similar role at Scotland but was forced to reduce the workload in September due to his father's illness. Advertisement The 45-year-old's intentions were to remain away from the international scene but his family circumstances have since changed and he viewed the opportunity to join the Portugal setup too good to turn down. Roberto Martinez wanted the Scotsman to join his staff and replace Anthony Barry who has linked up with Thomas Tuchel as the new assistant manager of England. GO DEEPER Villa have learned to love set pieces - and the man who devises them For the past five months MacPhee has been working solely in the West Midlands as part of the extensive coaching team under manager, Unai Emery, where he has played a key role in the coaching setup. A number of other international teams registered an interest in MacPhee before Portugal agreed a deal that will run until at least the end of the 2026 World Cup. Helping prepare the nation for the tournament in the U.S., Canada and Mexico will now be a priority for MacPhee when he links up with his latest international team. In 2016 he was the assistant to Michael O'Neil during Northern Ireland's European Championships campaign and last year he also worked as the set-piece coach for Scotland at Euro 2024. MacPhee will start working with Martinez in March when Portugal face Denmark in the quarter finals of the Nations League. GO DEEPER Soft signals, variation and routines - Aston Villa's inventive set plays (Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
