Premier League 2025–26: Set Play Coaches

In modern football, the margins between winning and losing can come down to a single well-executed corner or free-kick. The rise of dedicated set-piece specialists across the Premier League is a testament to the growing recognition of these moments as game-changers.

Ahead of the 2025–26 season, ten clubs currently employ dedicated set play coaches, two are in the process of hiring, and eight have no designated specialist in the role. Here’s a club-by-club breakdown of who’s leading the dead-ball charge this year.

Arsenal | 👤 Nicolas Jover

Since his arrival from Manchester City in 2021, Nicolas Jover has revolutionised Arsenal’s set-piece game. The Gunners equalled a Premier League record for goals from corners last season and have become one of the most feared sides in the league when it comes to dead-ball situations.

Aston Villa | 👤 Austin MacPhee

A trusted figure in Villa’s backroom since 2021, MacPhee has built a reputation for inventive, high-volume delivery routines. Under his guidance, roughly a quarter of Villa’s goals in recent seasons have come from set-play and MacPhee has regularly deployed inventive attacking routines to great effect. 

Bournemouth | ❌ No Specialist Set Play Coach

Set play responsibilities are shared by Shaun Cooper and Tommy Elphick. Cooper focuses on attacking set pieces, while Elphick works on defensive set pieces

Brentford | ⏰ Currently Hiring

As of writing, Brentford has no permanent set-play coach. The club—known as a pioneer in specialist set-piece coaching—advertised the position in July after Keith Andrews was promoted to Head Coach.

Brighton & Hove Albion | 👤 Yannick Euvrard

Announced in August 2025 as part of Fabian Hürzeler’s coaching staff, Euvrard will oversee all dead-ball scenarios for Brighton, marking the club’s first dedicated set-piece hire.

Burnley | 👤 Pål Fjelde

Appointed in July 2025 for Burnley’s return to the Premier League, Fjelde previously worked with the Norwegian FA as a set-piece coach. He succeeds Eliot Tybebo and aims to make set-plays a core strength under Scott Parker.

Chelsea | 👤 Bernardo Cueva

The former Brentford analyst brings a data-driven approach to Chelsea’s dead-ball strategy. Cueva’s routines blend statistical insight with tactical detail, offering a cutting-edge take on set-piece execution.

Crystal Palace | ❌ No Specialist Set Play Coach

The club doesn't have a designated set play coach but Ronald Brunmayr is believed to lead on the teams set plays, amongst other responsibilities.

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Everton | ❌ No Specialist Set Play Coach

The club do not currently have a designated set play coach, following the departure of Charlie Adam at the end of last season. It remains to be seen whether or not the club will fill this vacancy. 

Fulham | ⏰ Currently Hiring

The club are currently in the process of hiring a set play coaching having advertised for the role in July. 

Leeds United | ❌ No Specialist Set Play Coach

Daniel Farke’s side share set-piece work among assistant coaches. While not a specialist-led setup, they continue to integrate dead-ball preparation into regular training.

Liverpool | 👤 Aaron Briggs

Liverpool’s set-piece approach is driven by analytics, with Aaron Briggs often cited as the behind-the-scenes architect. Though not formally titled as a coach, his influence is clear in their data-informed routines.

Manchester City | 👤 James French

French is one of the league’s most interesting examples of an analyst stepping into coaching. Formerly Liverpool’s set-play analyst under Pep Lijnders and Jurgen Klopp, he now works alongside Pep Guardiola to refine City’s dead-ball strategies.

Manchester United | ❌ No Specialist Set Play Coach

After Andreas Georgson’s departure at the end of last season, Manchester United have yet to appoint a replacement. Current set-piece work is absorbed into the general coaching remit.

Newcastle United | 👤 Martin Mark

Mark was appointed this summer as Newcastle United’s first-ever dedicated set play coach. With prior experience in a similar role at FC Midtjylland, it will be intriguing to see how Mark enhances Newcastle’s set-piece strategies.

Nottingham Forest | 👤 Axl Rice

Rice, formerly a tactical analyst, transitioned to first-team set play coach/analyst in July 2024. Since his promotion, Nottingham Forest’s set-piece performance has significantly improved and played a key role in the club’s success last season. 

Sunderland | 👤 James Brayne

James was hired just before the start of the new season, having previously worked as a set play coach at Charlton Athletic. Before his time at The Valley, James enjoyed more than a decade with Birmingham City across two spells, which were split by three years with Manchester City.

Tottenham Hotspur | 👤 Andreas Georgson

Returning to the Premier League after spells at Arsenal, Brentford, and Manchester United, Georgson joined Spurs following the appointment of Thomas Frank. His track record makes him one of the most respected names in set-piece coaching.

West Ham United | ❌ No Specialist Set Play Coach

Graham Potter’s coaching staff share set-piece duties. While West Ham have dabbled in specialist appointments in the past, no dedicated hire is in place this season.

Wolverhampton Wanderers | ❌ No Specialist Set Play Coach

The responsibility of set plays seem to be shared by the first-team coaching staff rather than the club having a dedicated set play coach.

The Bigger Picture

Approaches to set-piece coaching in the Premier League vary widely. Some clubs—such as Arsenal, Manchester City, and Tottenham—have committed to proven specialists, reaping the benefits of dedicated expertise. Others still fold these duties into the broader coaching structure, relying on general staff to cover dead-ball routines. With vacancies at Brentford and Fulham yet to be filled, the demand for elite set-play coaches is as fierce as ever—driven by the growing influence of data, analytics, and tactical creativity on football’s smallest yet often match-defining moments.