Neil MacFarlane

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.

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. 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, when he fell out of favour under manager George Burley. 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, Graham Rix, before departing the club in January 2006.…

Early coaching roles

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. 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. Tasked with promotion, 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. 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. 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…

Player

Queen's Park Scottish League Third Division: 1999–00 Airdrieonians Scottish Challenge Cup: 2001–02 Gretna

Scottish League First Division: 2006–07

Manager

Brentford B

London Senior Cup: 2021–22 Premier League Cup: 2022–23