A Five-Year Villa Spell Comes to an End
Austin MacPhee is departing Aston Villa to join Chelsea as their new set-piece coach, dealing another blow to Unai Emery’s setup. The 46-year-old Scot said his goodbyes to players and staff on Friday, closing out five years of work at Villa Park.
His impact there ran deep. MacPhee joined in August 2021 under Dean Smith, later working through Steven Gerrard’s tenure before becoming a key figure under Emery. His attacking routines turned Villa into one of Europe’s most productive dead-ball teams, and his fingerprints were all over last season’s Europa League triumph.
Emery, for one, made no secret of his admiration. He once described MacPhee as “a really fantastic creator,” praising the demanding standards behind his coaching. Losing that expertise now leaves Villa searching for a replacement capable of matching what he built.
The timing stings further given recent events. MacPhee’s exit follows closely behind Morgan Rogers’ £117m move to Chelsea, meaning Villa have lost both a key player and a trusted coach within days. Quite the summer setback for a club aiming to build on last season’s momentum.
Chelsea Strengthens Alonso’s Backroom Team
At Chelsea, Xabi Alonso continues reshaping his coaching staff ahead of the new campaign. MacPhee’s arrival follows Bernardo Cueva’s exit from the same set-piece role, suggesting Alonso wanted a specialist with proven Premier League pedigree. Few candidates fit that description better.
Beyond his club work, MacPhee brings serious international experience too. He previously worked with Northern Ireland, Scotland, and currently serves as Portugal’s assistant head coach. That international grounding, paired with his detailed Villa routines, should translate quickly into Chelsea’s setup.
No financial terms have been disclosed yet, nor has an official announcement arrived from either club. Still, the move appears close to finalized, with MacPhee already having said his farewells. For continued coverage on managerial and coaching changes across Europe, visit the KCPredict blog, or read further reporting via Sky Sports.