ON THE MOVE
Scots set piece guru Austin MacPhee lands huge new role with world’s top stars and could soon plot Scotland’s downfall
And he could soon be plotting Scotland's downfall
THE remarkable rise of Aston Villa set piece specialist Austin MacPhee continues after he landed a plum role working with some of the world's top players.
The former Hearts and Scotland coach has joined Roberto Martinez's backroom team with Portugal.
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The 45-year-old became the Premier League club's set-piece coach back in 2021.
He joined Scotland as an assistant around the same time - having previously worked for Northern Ireland.
MacPhee was part of Steve Clarke's coaching set-up at Euro 2024 and left that role in October due to his father's illness.
The Scot is now back involved in international football with Portugal as replacement for Anthony Barry, who recently joined England as Thomas Tuchel's assistant.
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The Portuguese Football Federation has confirmed MacPhee will continue working for Villa and only link up with Martinez's national team during international breaks.
He begins his role when Portugal face Denmark in next month's Nations League quarter-finals.
The losers of that tie will go into a World Cup qualifying group including Scotland, Greece and Belarus.
MacPhee was involved in a high profile difference of opinion with Scotland boss Clarke when the Scots boss wasn't happy with a set piece malfunction against Germany.
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The incident occurred just after the hour mark in Scotland's Euro opener against the hosts when Scotland - already down to ten men - declined to put the ball into the box.
Instead the ball was worked wide to Andy Robertson who only succeeded in giving it away - with Leroy Sane running through on goal and almost adding another.
Cristiano Ronaldo ABSOLUTELY FUMING as he storms off pitch after Portugal draw with Scotland_1
It was obviously a poor choice - presumably a point which Clarke put across, as the Scots eventually got their goal from a ball played into the box.
Commentating on ITV/STV, Sam Matterface said: "It wasn't shown on your screen but that all came from a disappointing Scotland free kick and there was a bit of an argument going on in the Scotland technical area between Steve Clarke and Austin MacPhee, who's the set piece coach.
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