Speculative letter led to off-field career
Macaulay is no stranger to the Premier League, having worked with Graham Potter at Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham.
He first joined Potter in April 2012 at Swedish club Ostersunds, after writing to him asking if there were any playing opportunities at the club. Macaulay said: “He got back to me saying that his squad was full, but he was looking to recruit staff.”
Macaulay spent an initial six months in northern Sweden, having been “at a bit of a career crossroads” when he arrived. He quickly decided that being a staff member suited him more than playing. In 2013, he said: “My role has gradually grown to the point that I don’t really miss playing. I’ve got that hunger as a coach or analyst, which I didn’t have as a player by the time this opportunity came around.”
He became Head of Performance Analysis and ended up staying for six years, before following Potter to Championship side Swansea City as Head of Recruitment.
In 2019, they joined Brighton, where Macaulay was Assistant Head of Recruitment and he took up the same role when moving to Chelsea with Potter in 2022. He and stayed at Stamford Bridge in a different role as Chief Analyst after Potter was sacked in April 2023, before being reunited with him at the Hammers as Head of Recruitment in January this year.
He left the club in October following the departure of Potter and appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo as his replacement.