Austin MacPhee steps down from Scotland national team job

The set-piece coach will no longer be involved with the national team after deciding to step back from his position in Steve Clarke’s backroom team.

It’s understood MacPhee – who is a set-piece coach at Aston Villa – made the call due to family reasons as his father battles against illness.  The coach will now spend more time with his family outwith his club duties.

MacPhee is also thought to have left the Scotland backroom team as he contends with increased demands at Aston Villa with the club competing in the Premier League as well as the Champions League this season.

Clarke had appointed MacPhee to the backroom staff in 2021 and will now look to replace the specialist coach after his departure from Hampden duties.

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The Scotland manager is considering his options in replacing MacPhee but no immediate replacement has been identified.

It means Scotland could be without a successor to MacPhee for the upcoming Nations League matches against Croatia and Potrugal next month.

However, assistant coaches John Carver and Alan Irvine – as well as national team analysts – are fully understanding of set-piece protocols and processes to oversee that area of training in the absence of MacPhee.

Scotland travel to face Croatia on Saturday, October 12 before hosting Portugal at Hampden on Tuesday, October 15 in Nations League A.