Neil MacFarlane

Neil MacFarlane (born 10 October 1977) is a Scottish professional football coach and former player who played as a defensive midfielder. He is assistant first team coach of club Brentford and head coach of the Scotland national under-19 team.

MacFarlane played 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. He served in the role until July 2025, when he was promoted into the role of assistant first team coach.

Playing 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. He moved to Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock in July 2000, 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. MacFarlane transferred to First Division club Airdrieonians in July 2001 and though his 2001–02 season was ended prematurely by a cruciate ligament injury, he was a part of the team which was victorious in the 2001 Scottish Challenge Cup Final. He broke into the team in November 2002 and progressed sufficiently to sign an improved contract in January 2003. 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, A move to Dundee United was blocked by the Heart of Midlothian board in August 2005 and after suffering a knee injury, he made just one appearance under Burley's successor, Injuries restricted him to just eight appearances during the 2006–07 season, but he still received a First Division winners' medal. He had two seasons as a mainstay of the Queens team, in which he had previously competed while a Heart of Midlothian player. 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. 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.

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

Brentford On 30 May 2019, MacFarlane joined Brentford as head coach of the club's B team. 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. The team entered the Professional Development League in 2024 and won the competition at the first attempt. In July 2025, after being awarded a UEFA Pro Licence, MacFarlane was promoted into the role of assistant first team coach.

Career statistics

Managerial statistics

+ Managerial record by team and tenure TeamNatFromToRecord Ref Coventry City (caretaker)23 February 20153 March 2015 Kidderminster Harriers25 May 20187 January 2019 Total―

Honours

Player Queen's Park Scottish League Third Division: 1999–00

Manager Brentford B London Senior Cup: 2021–22 Premier League Cup: 2022–23