Neil MacFarlane (footballer)

Neil MacFarlane (born 10 October 1977, in Dunoon) is a Scottish former professional football player and coach, who is head coach of Brentford B. MacFarlane played as a defensive midfielder at 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.

Neil MacFarlane
Neil MacFarlane outside Palmerston Park, Dumfries
Personal information
Full name Neil MacFarlane[1]
Date of birth (1977-10-10) 10 October 1977
Place of birth Dunoon, Scotland
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Playing position(s) Defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Brentford B (head coach)
Youth career
0000–1999 Glasgow Amateurs U21
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (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)
Total 256 (5)
Teams managed
2012–2013 Falkirk (assistant)
2013–2015 Coventry City (assistant)
2015 Coventry City (caretaker)
2015–2016 Fleetwood Town (assistant)
2018–2019 Kidderminster Harriers
2019– Brentford B
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Early years (1999–2002)

A defensive midfielder, McFarlane 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 three-and-a-half 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 assistant 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 with the club in 2015.[30] Tasked with promotion,[31] MacFarlane presided over 27 matches, winning 11,[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 Championship club's B team.[26]

Career statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Scottish Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Queen's Park 1999–00[34] Scottish Third Division 36 0 1 0 2 0 ― 3[lower-alpha 1] 0 42 0
Kilmarnock 2000–01[35] Scottish Premier League 0 0 0 0 0 0 ― ― 0 0
Queen's Park (loan) 2000–01[35] Scottish Second Division 8 0 0 0 ― ― ― 8 0
Queen's Park total 44 0 1 0 2 0 ― 3 0 50 0
Clyde (loan) 2000–01[35] Scottish First Division 7 0 ― ― ― ― 7 0
Airdrieonians 2001–02[7] Scottish First Division 28 3 1 0 3 1 ― 5[lower-alpha 1] 0 37 4
Heart of Midlothian 2002–03[11] Scottish Premier League 21 0 1 0 2 0 ― ― 24 0
2003–04[12] 29 0 2 0 1 0 3[lower-alpha 2] 0 ― 35 0
2004–05[13] 20 0 6 1 1 0 5[lower-alpha 2] 0 ― 32 1
2005–06[14] 3 0 0 0 1 0 ― ― 4 0
Total 73 0 9 1 5 0 8 0 ― 95 1
Aberdeen 2005–06[14] Scottish Premier League 6 0 0 0 ― ― ― 6 0
Gretna 2006–07[36] Scottish First Division 5 0 0 0 1 0 ― 2[lower-alpha 1] 0 8 0
Queen of the South 2007–08[23] Scottish First Division 28 1 5 0 1 0 ― 1[lower-alpha 1] 0 35 1
2008–09[24] 33 0 1 0 1 0 2[lower-alpha 2] 0 0 0 37 0
Total 61 1 6 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 72 1
Greenock Morton 2009–10[1] Scottish First Division 16 0 1 0 2 1 ― 2[lower-alpha 1] 0 21 1
2010–11[37] 0 0 ― 0 0 ― 0 0 0 0
Total 16 0 1 0 2 1 ― 2 0 21 1
Airdrie United 2010–11[37] Scottish Second Division 1 0 ― ― ― ― 1 0
Annan Athletic 2010–11[37] Scottish Third Division 15 1 ― ― ― 4[lower-alpha 3] 0 19 1
Career total 256 5 18 1 15 2 10 0 17 0 316 8
  1. Appearances in Scottish Challenge Cup
  2. Appearances in UEFA Cup
  3. Appearances in Scottish Second Division play-offs

Managerial statistics
As of 5 January 2019
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team Nat From To Record Ref
G W D L Win %
Coventry City (caretaker) 23 February 2015 3 March 2015 2 1 0 1 050.00 [32]
Kidderminster Harriers 25 May 2018 7 January 2019 27 11 7 9 040.74
Total 29 12 7 10 041.38 ―

Honours
Queen's Park
Airdrieonians

Gretna

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References
  1. Neil MacFarlane at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  2. Neil MacFarlane at WorldFootball.net
  3. "Getting to know: Neil MacFarlane – News – Fleetwood Town". www.fleetwoodtownfc.com. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  4. "www.killiefc.com .... Season Diary 2000–2001 Kilmarnock FC". www.killiefc.com. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  5. Neil MacFarlane at Soccerbase
  6. "Hearts go for Oueifio". 23 November 2002. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  7. "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. "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  12. "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  13. "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  14. "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  15. "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. "Gretna cut short MacFarlane stay". BBC Sport. 14 May 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  21. "Official Queen of the South Site". www.qosarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  22. "MacFarlane joins up at Palmerston". BBC Sport. 8 June 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  23. "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  24. "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. "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. "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. Neil MacFarlane management career statistics at Soccerbase
  33. "Club statement: Neil MacFarlane". Official Website of the Harriers – Kidderminster Harriers FC. 7 January 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  34. "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  35. "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  36. "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  37. "Games played by Neil MacFarlane in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
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