Neil MacFarlane (footballer)
{{Short description|Scottish footballer (born 1977)}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Neil MacFarlane
| image = 44 Neil MacFarlane.JPG
| upright = 0.9
| caption = MacFarlane outside Palmerston Park, Dumfries in 2008
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1977|10|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = Dunoon, Scotland
| height = 1.85 m{{WorldFootball.net|id=neil-macfarlane}}
| position = Defensive midfielder
| currentclub = Brentford B (head coach)
Scotland U19 (head coach)
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1999
| youthclubs1 = Glasgow Amateurs U21
| years1 = 1999–2000
| clubs1 = Queen's Park
| caps1 = 36
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2000–2001
| clubs2 = Kilmarnock
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2000–2001
| clubs3 = → Queen's Park (loan)
| caps3 = 8
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2001
| clubs4 = → Clyde (loan)
| caps4 = 7
| goals4 = 0
| years5 = 2001–2002
| clubs5 = Airdrieonians
| caps5 = 28
| goals5 = 3
| years6 = 2002–2006
| clubs6 = Heart of Midlothian
| caps6 = 73
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2006
| clubs7 = Aberdeen
| caps7 = 6
| goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2006–2007
| clubs8 = Gretna
| caps8 = 5
| goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2007–2009
| clubs9 = Queen of the South
| caps9 = 61
| goals9 = 1
| years10 = 2009–2010
| clubs10 = Greenock Morton
| caps10 = 16
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2010
| clubs11 = Airdrie United
| caps11 = 1
| goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2011
| clubs12 = Annan Athletic
| caps12 = 15
| goals12 = 1
| totalcaps = 256
| totalgoals = 5
| manageryears1 = 2015
| managerclubs1 = Coventry City (caretaker)
| manageryears2 = 2018–2019
| managerclubs2 = Kidderminster Harriers
| manageryears3 = 2019–
| managerclubs3 = Brentford B
| manageryears4 = 2024–
| managerclubs4 = Scotland U19
}}
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.
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.{{Cite web |title=Getting to know: Neil MacFarlane |url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2015/october/getting-to-know-neil-macfarlane/ |access-date=8 July 2019 |website=Fleetwood Town F.C. |date=6 October 2015 |language=en-gb}} He moved to Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock in July 2000,{{Cite web |title=Season Diary 2000–2001 |url=https://www.killiefc.com/2000-2009/2000-2001 |access-date=8 July 2019 |website=Kilmarnock FC}} 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.{{soccerbase|id=17096|name=Neil MacFarlane}} MacFarlane transferred to First Division club Airdrieonians in July 2001 and though his 2001–02 season was ended prematurely by a cruciate ligament injury,{{Cite news |date=23 November 2002 |title=Hearts go for Oueifio |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/2506359.stm |access-date=8 July 2019}} he was a part of the team which was victorious in the 2001 Scottish Challenge Cup Final.
= 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.{{Cite news |date=4 July 2002 |title=MacFarlane hobbles to Hearts |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/2095415.stm |access-date=16 May 2008}} He broke into the team in November 2002 and progressed sufficiently to sign an improved contract in January 2003.{{Cite news |date=10 January 2003 |title=MacFarlane wins Hearts deal |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/2646257.stm |access-date=16 May 2008}} 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,{{Cite news |date=11 May 2004 |title=Tynecastle trio to leave |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/3695103.stm |access-date=8 July 2019}} when he fell out of favour under manager George Burley.{{Cite news |date=26 January 2006 |title=MacFarlane completes Dons switch |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/4645468.stm |access-date=16 May 2008}} A move to Dundee United was blocked by the Hearts board in August 2005 and after suffering a knee injury,{{Cite news |date=1 September 2005 |title=Hearts board halt MacFarlane move |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4206332.stm |access-date=8 July 2019}}{{Cite news |date=14 December 2005 |title=MacFarlane aims for Hearts stay |language=en-GB |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4529698.stm |access-date=8 July 2019}} he made just one appearance under Burley's successor, Graham Rix, before departing the club in January 2006. MacFarlane made 95 appearances and scored one goal during his {{frac|3|1|2}} years at Tynecastle.
= Later career (2006–2011) =
MacFarlane spent the second half of the 2005–06 season with Scottish Premier League club Aberdeen, before signing a two-year contract with First Division club Gretna in May 2006.{{Cite news |date=26 April 2006 |title=Aberdeen duo free to leave club |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/aberdeen/4946630.stm |access-date=16 May 2008}}{{Cite news |date=25 May 2006 |title=Gretna grab MacFarlane and McGill |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_div_1/5017480.stm |access-date=16 May 2008}} Injuries restricted him to just eight appearances during the 2006–07 season,{{Cite news |date=14 May 2007 |title=Gretna cut short MacFarlane stay |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/g/gretna/6656161.stm |access-date=16 May 2008}} but he still received a First Division winners' medal. After his Gretna contract was terminated in May 2007, MacFarlane moved to First Division club Queen of the South on a two-year contract.{{Cite news |date=8 June 2007 |title=MacFarlane joins up at Palmerston |publisher=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/q/queen_of_the_south/6735463.stm |access-date=16 May 2008}} He had two seasons as a mainstay of the Queens team, reaching the 2008 Scottish Cup Final and qualifying for the UEFA Cup,{{Fchd|id=QUEENOTS|name=Queen of the South F.C.}} in which he had previously competed while a Hearts player. MacFarlane wound down his career with spells at lower division clubs Greenock Morton, Airdrie United and Annan Athletic and retired in 2011.
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.{{Cite web |title=Neil MacFarlane takes B Team Head Coach role |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2019/may/neil-macfarlane-b-team-head-coach/ |website=www.brentfordfc.com}} 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.{{Cite news |date=31 July 2015 |title=Coventry City: Neil MacFarlane leaves role as assistant manager |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33734194 |access-date=8 July 2019}} 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.{{Cite web |date=12 December 2016 |title=MacFarlane added to backroom staff |url=http://www.mkdons.com/news/article/2016-17/macfarlane-added-to-backroom-staff-3464906.aspx |access-date=12 December 2016 |publisher=Milton Keynes Dons FC}}{{Cite web |date=20 January 2018 |title=Robbie Neilson: Milton Keynes Dons manager leaves club by 'mutual consent' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42763390 |access-date=21 January 2018 |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC}}
Managerial career
= Kidderminster Harriers =
On 25 May 2018, MacFarlane was announced as manager of National League North club Kidderminster Harriers.{{Cite web |date=25 May 2018 |title=MacFarlane appointed boss |url=http://www.harriers.co.uk/news/2018/05/25/macfarlane-appointed-boss/ |access-date=8 July 2019 |website=Official Website of the Harriers – Kidderminster Harriers FC |language=en-GB}} He had briefly coached at the club in 2015. Tasked with promotion,{{Cite web |date=20 July 2018 |title=It's time Kidderminster Harriers pass the promotion test, says Neil MacFarlane |url=https://www.thenonleaguefootballpaper.com/features/23553/its-time-kidderminster-harriers-pass-the-promotion-test-says-neil-macfarlane/ |access-date=8 July 2019 |website=The Non League Football Paper – Daily football news |language=en-GB}} MacFarlane presided over 27 matches, winning 12,{{Cite web |title=Managers {{!}} Neil MacFarlane |url=https://www.kidderminsterharriers.com/managers.php?manager=26 |access-date=8 January 2021 |website=KidderminsterHarriers.com}} before he agreed to part ways with the club in January 2019.{{Cite web |date=7 January 2019 |title=Club statement: Neil MacFarlane |url=http://www.harriers.co.uk/news/2019/01/07/club-statement-neil-macfarlane/ |access-date=8 July 2019 |website=Official Website of the Harriers – Kidderminster Harriers FC |language=en-GB}}
= Brentford B =
On 30 May 2019, MacFarlane joined Brentford as head coach of the club's B team. 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.{{Cite web |title=Brentford 2 Middlesbrough 1 |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/news/2021/january/match-report-for-brentford-vs-middlesbrough-on-09-jan-21/ |access-date=9 January 2021 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Match Report and Match Highlights: Brentford B win London Senior Cup on penalties |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/match-report-and-match-highlights-brentford-b-win-london-senior-cup-on-penalties-636293 |access-date=10 May 2023 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}{{Cite web |title=Brentford B 2 Blackburn U21 1 |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/match-reports-brentford-b-2-blacburn-under-21s-1-premier-league-cup-final |access-date=10 May 2023 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}
= Scotland U19 =
In August 2024, MacFarlane was announced as head coach of Scotland U19.{{Cite web |title=Neil MacFarlane accepts Scotland U19 role |url=https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/news/article/brentford-b-team-neil-macfarlane-scotland-under-19s-head-coach |access-date=19 August 2024 |website=www.brentfordfc.com |language=en-gb}}
Career statistics
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition ! rowspan="2" |Club ! rowspan="2" |Season ! colspan="3" |League ! colspan="2" |Scottish Cup ! colspan="2" |League Cup ! colspan="2" |Europe ! colspan="2" |Other ! colspan="2" |Total |
| Division
!Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals !Apps !Goals |
|---|
| Queen's Park
|1999–00{{Soccerbase season|id=17096|season=1999|accessdate=8 July 2019}} |36 |0 |1 |0 |2 |0 | colspan="2" |― |3Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup |0 |42 |0 |
| Kilmarnock
|2000–01{{Soccerbase season|id=17096|season=2000|accessdate=8 July 2019}} |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― |0 |0 |
| rowspan="2" |Queen's Park (loan)
|8 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― |8 |0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!44 !0 !1 !0 !2 !0 ! colspan="2" |― !3 !0 !50 !0 |
| Clyde (loan)
|7 |0 | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― |7 |0 |
| Airdrieonians
|2001–02{{Soccerbase season|id=17096|season=2001|accessdate=8 July 2019}} |Scottish First Division |28 |3 |1 |0 |3 |1 | colspan="2" |― |0 |37 |4 |
| rowspan="5" |Heart of Midlothian
|2002–03{{Soccerbase season|id=17096|season=2002|accessdate=8 July 2019}} |Scottish Premier League |21 |0 |1 |0 |2 |0 | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― |24 |0 |
| 2003–04{{Soccerbase season|id=17096|season=2003|accessdate=8 July 2019}}
|Scottish Premier League |29 |0 |2 |0 |1 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |― |35 |0 |
| 2004–05{{Soccerbase season|id=17096|season=2004|accessdate=8 July 2019}}
|Scottish Premier League |20 |0 |6 |1 |1 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |― |32 |1 |
| 2005–06{{Soccerbase season|id=17096|season=2005|accessdate=8 July 2019}}
|Scottish Premier League |3 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― |4 |0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!73 !0 !9 !1 !5 !0 !8 !0 ! colspan="2" |― !95 !1 |
| Aberdeen
|Scottish Premier League |6 |0 |0 |0 | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― |6 |0 |
| Gretna
|2006–07{{Soccerbase season|id=17096|season=2006|accessdate=8 July 2019}} |Scottish First Division |5 |0 |0 |0 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |― |0 |8 |0 |
| rowspan="3" |Queen of the South
|2007–08{{Soccerbase season|id=17096|season=2007|accessdate=8 July 2019}} |Scottish First Division |28 |1 |5 |0 |1 |0 | colspan="2" |― |0 |35 |1 |
| 2008–09{{Soccerbase season|id=17096|season=2008|accessdate=8 July 2019}}
|Scottish First Division |33 |0 |1 |0 |1 |0 |0 |0 |0 |37 |0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!61 !1 !6 !0 !2 !0 !2 !0 !1 !0 !72 !1 |
| rowspan="3" |Greenock Morton
|2009–10{{Soccerway|id=33380|accessdate=8 July 2019}} |Scottish First Division |16 |0 |1 |0 |2 |1 | colspan="2" |― |0 |21 |1 |
| 2010–11{{Soccerbase season|id=17096|season=2010|accessdate=8 July 2019}}
|Scottish First Division |0 |0 | colspan="2" |― |0 |0 | colspan="2" |― |0 |0 |0 |0 |
| colspan="2" |Total
!16 !0 !1 !0 !2 !1 ! colspan="2" |― !2 !0 !21 !1 |
| Airdrie United
|Scottish Second Division |1 |0 | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― |1 |0 |
| Annan Athletic
|Scottish Third Division |15 |1 | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― | colspan="2" |― |4Appearances in Scottish Second Division play-offs |0 |19 |1 |
| colspan="3" |Career total
!256 !5 !18 !1 !15 !2 !10 !0 !17 !0 !316 !8 |
Managerial statistics
{{updated|match played 22 March 2025}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure |
| rowspan="2" |Team
! rowspan="2" |Nat ! rowspan="2" |From ! rowspan="2"|To ! colspan="5" |Record ! rowspan="2" |Ref |
|---|
| {{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}} !{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}} |
| align=left|Coventry City (caretaker)
|{{flagicon|England}} |align=left|23 February 2015 |align=left|3 March 2015 {{WDL|2|1|0|1}} |
| align="left" | Kidderminster Harriers
|{{flagicon|England}} |align=left|25 May 2018 |align=left|7 January 2019 {{WDL|27|12|6|9}} |
| align="left" | Scotland U19
|{{flagicon|Scotland}} |align=left|14 August 2024 |align=left|Present {{WDL|10|5|4|1}} |
| colspan="4"|Total
{{WDLtot|39|18|10|11}} !― |
Honours
= Player =
= Manager =
Brentford B
- London Senior Cup: 2021–22
- Premier League Cup: 2022–23
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{soccerbase|id=17096}}
- {{soccerbase|id=52095}} (Morton)
- {{Soccerbase manager|id=3490}}
- [https://www.brentfordfc.com/en/teams/profile/neil-macfarlane Neil McFarlane] at brentfordfc.com
{{Coventry City F.C. managers}}
{{Kidderminster Harriers F.C. managers}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macfarlane, Neil}}
Category:Sportspeople from Dunoon
Category:Scottish men's footballers
Category:Airdrieonians F.C. (1878) players
Category:Kilmarnock F.C. players
Category:Heart of Midlothian F.C. players
Category:Queen's Park F.C. players
Category:Aberdeen F.C. players
Category:Greenock Morton F.C. players
Category:Queen of the South F.C. players
Category:Scottish Premier League players
Category:Scottish Football League players
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Greenock Morton F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Airdrieonians F.C. players
Category:Annan Athletic F.C. players
Category:Coventry City F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Milton Keynes Dons F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Falkirk F.C. non-playing staff
Category:National League (English football) managers
Category:Kidderminster Harriers F.C. managers
Category:Coventry City F.C. managers
Category:Scottish football managers
Category:Footballers from Argyll and Bute
Category:Brentford F.C. non-playing staff