What do Aston Villa and Portugal have in common when it comes to taking direct free kicks? Emiliano Buendia, João Neves, and Morgan Rogers all benefit from the work of Austin MacPhee, a set-piece specialist who has developed a dipping free-kick technique with a backspin (sometimes reminiscent of Juninho) whose upward trajectory, followed by a sudden dip, is very difficult for goalkeepers to anticipate. To refine his method, the Scottish coach relies on Trackman, a radar system from golf capable of measuring ball speed, spin, and height in real time, as The Athletic points out. Combined with a giant training wall (2.4 m) replicating the defenders' jumping height, the tool allows him to optimize the striking angle and reach the ideal peak height (approximately 2.5 m at 20 m). Already used by several Premier League and Champions League clubs, as well as various national teams, Trackman finds an extreme application with MacPhee. "Measuring the ball's movement and providing immediate feedback is revolutionary," emphasizes Roberto Martinez, Portugal's national team coach. Always seeking marginal gains, MacPhee also works on the team aspect: adding a false wall to obscure the goalkeeper's view, repeating routines to coordinate momentum, supporting foot orientation, and ankle lock… A method that is bearing fruit: in recent weeks, Villa and Portugal have scored three direct free kicks thanks to this scientific and inspiring approach.
Austin MacPhee, the set-piece specialist for Aston Villa and Portugal, scientifically develops a highly effective floating strike technique / ©Icon Sport