Set piece coach opens up on his 'odd couple' partnership with Steve Clarke.
He admits they’re Scottish football’s odd couple. But when it comes to the numbers game then pairing Austin MacPhee and Steve Clarke has helped put Scotland firmly back on an even keel.
The first of those 18 games with MacPhee involved coincided with Scott McTominay’s last gasp headed winner against Israel on a monumental night at Hampden. There’s been other stand out set piece goals too such as John Souttar’s against Denmark in Glasgow. “By pure chance, in the same week that I left Midtjylland to join Villa, I left Northern Ireland to join Scotland. Steve knew two things probably. Scotland weren’t very good at set pieces and I was a set piece coach.
“Forty years ago there wasn’t a goalie coach, 30 years ago there wasn’t sports science, 20 years ago there wasn’t analysis, 10 years ago there wasn’t xG and three years ago there wasn’t a set piece coach. It’s a natural evolution of the game. And he knew that Scotland were struggling in this area. “When Northern Ireland qualified for the Euros in 2016, we scored 16 goals and 11 were set pieces. I was in charge of the set pieces.“I go back to the odd couple - if people in football were going to say Steve Clarke is going to pick someone as another assistant I don’t think anyone puts their hand up and says Austin MacPhee. They’d have expected someone more traditional.
Crucially he has the trust of the big names to take charge when a set piece arrives. He said: “There’s a moment of responsibility and its clear at Villa because every time there’s a set piece I walk to the edge of the pitch and when the set piece is finished the manager walks back past me.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Austin MacPhee highlights big question awaiting Scotland at Euro 2024Steve Clarke's side aren't across the line yet but coach believes they should be aiming to go further in the competition if and when qualification is achieved.
Read more »
Billy Gilmour gives Brighton v Newcastle verdict as Scotland ace hailed 'baller'The midfielder remained patient after waiting for his chance and after impressing at the end of last season he has continued his rise with another stunning midfielder display at the Amex.
Read more »
Scotland and Chile: 50 years of solidarity on anniversary of fascist coupTHERE are historical events that make their mark on a generation, and the fascist coup in Chile, 50 years ago on September 11, 1973, was certainly…
Read more »
No immediate risk to safety where Raac is found in Scotland, minister saysReinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) has been found in 35 schools, with inspections underway in other public buildings.
Read more »
Two arrested after biker killed near Scotland borderCumbria Police confirm a man in his 60s, from the Carlisle area, died at the scene.
Read more »
No immediate risk to safety where Raac is found in Scotland, minister saysReinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac) has been found in 35 schools, with inspections underway in other public buildings.
Read more »