Chelsea are pursuing Scottish set-piece specialist Austin MacPhee from Aston Villa as manager Xabi Alonso moves to reshape the club's coaching infrastructure ahead of the new campaign. The 46-year-old has become one of Europe's most sought-after technical coaches, with several Premier League clubs and Saudi Pro League sides competing for his signature.
MacPhee's five-year tenure at Villa has established him as an elite voice in set-piece design. Under his guidance, Villa led all five major European leagues for goals from set pieces during the 2023-24 season, a remarkable statistical achievement. They matched Arsenal's tally in the Premier League ranking the following year, demonstrating sustained excellence in a crucial area of modern football. His parallel work as set-piece coach for Portugal under Roberto Martinez added further international credibility before Martinez's departure after the 2026 World Cup qualification cycle.
Chelsea's Wider Coaching Overhaul
The MacPhee pursuit sits within a larger Chelsea restructuring. Current set-piece coach Bernardo Cueva, signed from Brentford for £750,000 in 2024, will transition into a behind-the-scenes technical analysis role. This shift creates dedicated space for a new specialist, with MacPhee's track record making him a natural target. His contract with Villa includes a release clause that permits departure, though the Midlands club will receive compensation for any exit.
Villa's recent resurgence—culminating in Europa League success and Champions League qualification under Unai Emery—has raised their profile across Europe's coaching market. Beyond MacPhee, the two clubs maintain active trading. Chelsea completed the £117 million acquisition of Morgan Rogers this week, while Argentine winger Alejandro Garnacho joined Villa on a season-long loan with a purchase option embedded into the deal.
If MacPhee accepts Chelsea's approach, he would join a Blues side looking to optimise every marginal gain. Set-piece efficiency has become decisive at the highest level, making his expertise invaluable as Alonso builds his first Chelsea squad.
