Neil MacFarlane (footballer)

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Neil MacFarlane
44 Neil MacFarlane.JPG
MacFarlane outside Palmerston Park, Dumfries in 2008
Personal information
Full name Neil MacFarlane [1]
Date of birth (1977-10-10) 10 October 1977 (age 47)
Place of birth Dunoon, Scotland
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) [2]
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Brentford B (head coach)
Scotland U19 (head coach)
Youth career
–1999 Glasgow Amateurs U21
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1999–2000 Queen's Park 36 (0)
2000–2001 Kilmarnock 0 (0)
2000–2001 → Queen's Park (loan) 8 (0)
2001 → Clyde (loan) 7 (0)
2001–2002 Airdrieonians 28 (3)
2002–2006 Heart of Midlothian 73 (0)
2006 Aberdeen 6 (0)
2006–2007 Gretna 5 (0)
2007–2009 Queen of the South 61 (1)
2009–2010 Greenock Morton 16 (0)
2010 Airdrie United 1 (0)
2011 Annan Athletic 15 (1)
Total256(5)
Managerial career
2015 Coventry City (caretaker)
2018–2019 Kidderminster Harriers
2019– Brentford B
2024– Scotland U19
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Neil MacFarlane (born 10 October 1977) is a Scottish professional football coach and former player, who is head coach of Brentford B and Scotland U19. MacFarlane played as a defensive midfielder for a number of clubs at all four levels of the Scottish league system. After his retirement as a player in 2011, he became a coach and was appointed to his first managerial role at English non-League club Kidderminster Harriers in 2018. One year later, he was appointed head coach of Brentford B.

Contents

Club career

Early years (1999–2002)

McFarlane was born in Dunoon. A defensive midfielder, he began his senior career with Queen's Park in 1999 and won the Third Division title in his first season with the club. [3] He moved to Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock in July 2000, [4] but failed to make a first team appearance and instead spent much of his single season at Rugby Park away on loan at former club Queen's Park and Clyde. [5] MacFarlane transferred to First Division club Airdrieonians in July 2001 and though his 2001–02 season was ended prematurely by a cruciate ligament injury, [6] he was a part of the team which was victorious in the 2001 Scottish Challenge Cup Final. [5] [7]

Heart of Midlothian (2002–2006)

Though still recovering from a cruciate ligament injury suffered while an Airdrieonians player, MacFarlane signed a one-year contract with Scottish Premier League club Heart of Midlothian in July 2002, on a part-time wage. [8] He broke into the team in November 2002 and progressed sufficiently to sign an improved contract in January 2003. [9] MacFarlane signed a new two-year contract at the end of the 2004–05 season and was a regular member of the team through to the early months of the 2005–06 season, [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] when he fell out of favour under manager George Burley. [15] A move to Dundee United was blocked by the Hearts board in August 2005 and after suffering a knee injury, [16] [17] he made just one appearance under Burley's successor, [14] Graham Rix, before departing the club in January 2006. [15] MacFarlane made 95 appearances and scored one goal during his 3+1⁄2 years at Tynecastle. [5]

Later career (2006–2011)

MacFarlane spent the second half of the 2005–06 season with Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen, [15] before signing a two-year contract with First Division club Gretna in May 2006. [18] [19] Injuries restricted him to just eight appearances during the 2006–07 season, [20] but he still received a First Division winners' medal. [21] After his Gretna contract was terminated in May 2007, [20] MacFarlane moved to First Division club Queen of the South on a two-year contract. [22] He had two seasons as a mainstay of the Queens team, [23] [24] reaching the 2008 Scottish Cup Final and qualifying for the UEFA Cup, [25] in which he had previously competed while a Hearts player. [12] [13] MacFarlane wound down his career with spells at lower division clubs Greenock Morton, Airdrie United and Annan Athletic and retired in 2011. [3]

Coaching career

MacFarlane began his coaching career in 2012 and served as assistant to former Heart of Midlothian teammate Steven Pressley at Falkirk, Coventry City, Fleetwood Town and Pafos. [26] In February and March 2015, he briefly held the role of caretaker manager at Coventry City, before leaving the club at the end of the 2014–15 season. [27] MacFarlane joined Milton Keynes Dons as first team coach to manager Robbie Neilson in December 2016 and stayed in the role until Neilson's sacking in January 2018. [28] [29]

Managerial career

Kidderminster Harriers

On 25 May 2018, MacFarlane was announced as manager of National League North club Kidderminster Harriers. [30] He had briefly coached at the club in 2015. [30] Tasked with promotion, [31] MacFarlane presided over 27 matches, winning 12, [32] before he agreed to part ways with the club in January 2019. [33]

Brentford B

On 30 May 2019, MacFarlane joined Brentford as head coach of the club's B team. [26] As a result of first team head coach Thomas Frank testing positive for COVID-19, MacFarlane presided over the first team's 2–1 FA Cup third round victory over Middlesbrough on 9 January 2021. [34] He won competitive cup competitions in each of the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons, with the London Senior Cup and Premier League Cups respectively. [35] [36]

Scotland U19

In August 2024, MacFarlane was announced as head coach of Scotland U19. [37]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueScottish CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Queen's Park 1999–00 [38] Scottish Third Division 3601020―3 [a] 0420
Kilmarnock 2000–01 [39] Scottish Premier League 000000――00
Queen's Park (loan) 2000–01 [39] Scottish Second Division 8000―――80
Total4401020―30500
Clyde (loan) 2000–01 [39] Scottish First Division 70――――70
Airdrieonians 2001–02 [7] Scottish First Division2831031―5 [a] 0374
Heart of Midlothian 2002–03 [11] Scottish Premier League2101020――240
2003–04 [12] Scottish Premier League29020103 [b] 0―350
2004–05 [13] Scottish Premier League20061105 [b] 0―321
2005–06 [14] Scottish Premier League300010――40
Total730915080―951
Aberdeen 2005–06 [14] Scottish Premier League6000―――60
Gretna 2006–07 [40] Scottish First Division500010―2 [a] 080
Queen of the South 2007–08 [23] Scottish First Division2815010―1 [a] 0351
2008–09 [24] Scottish First Division33010102 [b] 000370
Total61160202010721
Greenock Morton 2009–10 [1] Scottish First Division1601021―2 [a] 0211
2010–11 [41] Scottish First Division00―00―0000
Total1601021―20211
Airdrie United 2010–11 [41] Scottish Second Division10――――10
Annan Athletic 2010–11 [41] Scottish Third Division151―――4 [c] 0191
Career total25651811521001703168
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. 1 2 3 Appearances in UEFA Cup
  3. ↑ Appearances in Scottish Second Division play-offs

Managerial statistics

As of match played 22 March 2025
Managerial record by team and tenure
TeamNatFromToRecordRef
GWDLWin %
Coventry City (caretaker) Flag of England.svg 23 February 20153 March 20152101050.00 [42]
Kidderminster Harriers Flag of England.svg 25 May 20187 January 2019271269044.44 [32]
Scotland U19 Flag of Scotland.svg 14 August 2024Present10541050.00 [43]
Total39181011046.15―

Honours

Player

Queen's Park
Airdrieonians

Gretna

Manager

Brentford B

References

  1. 1 2 Neil MacFarlane at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  2. ↑ Neil MacFarlane at WorldFootball.net
  3. 1 2 3 "Getting to know: Neil MacFarlane". Fleetwood Town F.C. 6 October 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  4. ↑ "Season Diary 2000–2001". Kilmarnock FC. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 Neil MacFarlane at Soccerbase
  6. ↑ "Hearts go for Oueifio". 23 November 2002. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  8. ↑ "MacFarlane hobbles to Hearts". BBC Sport. 4 July 2002. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  9. ↑ "MacFarlane wins Hearts deal". BBC Sport. 10 January 2003. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  10. ↑ "Tynecastle trio to leave". 11 May 2004. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  13. 1 2 3 "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  15. 1 2 3 "MacFarlane completes Dons switch". BBC Sport. 26 January 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  16. ↑ "Hearts board halt MacFarlane move". 1 September 2005. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  17. ↑ "MacFarlane aims for Hearts stay". 14 December 2005. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  18. ↑ "Aberdeen duo free to leave club". BBC Sport. 26 April 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  19. ↑ "Gretna grab MacFarlane and McGill". BBC Sport. 25 May 2006. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  20. 1 2 "Gretna cut short MacFarlane stay". BBC Sport. 14 May 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  21. 1 2 "Latest News 2007/08". Official Queen of the South Site. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  22. ↑ "MacFarlane joins up at Palmerston". BBC Sport. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  23. 1 2 "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  24. 1 2 "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  25. ↑ Queen of the South F.C. at the Football Club History Database
  26. 1 2 "Neil MacFarlane takes B Team Head Coach role". www.brentfordfc.com.
  27. ↑ "Coventry City: Neil MacFarlane leaves role as assistant manager". 31 July 2015. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  28. ↑ "MacFarlane added to backroom staff". Milton Keynes Dons FC. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
  29. ↑ "Robbie Neilson: Milton Keynes Dons manager leaves club by 'mutual consent'". BBC Sport. BBC. 20 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  30. 1 2 "MacFarlane appointed boss". Official Website of the Harriers – Kidderminster Harriers FC. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  31. ↑ "It's time Kidderminster Harriers pass the promotion test, says Neil MacFarlane". The Non League Football Paper – Daily football news. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  32. 1 2 "Managers | Neil MacFarlane". KidderminsterHarriers.com. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  33. ↑ "Club statement: Neil MacFarlane". Official Website of the Harriers – Kidderminster Harriers FC. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  34. ↑ "Brentford 2 Middlesbrough 1". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 9 January 2021.
  35. 1 2 "Match Report and Match Highlights: Brentford B win London Senior Cup on penalties". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  36. 1 2 "Brentford B 2 Blackburn U21 1". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
  37. ↑ "Neil MacFarlane accepts Scotland U19 role". www.brentfordfc.com. Retrieved 19 August 2024.
  38. ↑ "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  39. 1 2 3 4 "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  41. 1 2 3 "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  42. ↑ Neil MacFarlane management career statistics at Soccerbase
  43. ↑ "Scotland Under-19s Team Fixtures & Results". Scottish FA. Retrieved 1 November 2024.
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