After a career teaching at secondary school level in Dunedin and Wellington, McFarland began his club coaching career with Central United in Auckland, leading them to two Chatham Cup titles in his three year spell at the club, including a Northern League/Chatham Cup double in 2007.

[1] The pair guided Auckland City to the 2011 OFC Champions League title, qualifying for the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup after a two-year absence from that event.

A month out from the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico, in April of that year, New Zealand U-17 head coach Steve Cain resigned for personal reasons and McFarland was appointed as his replacement.

[4][5] The side repeated their effort of two years prior, making the round of 16, before being eliminated at the hands of Japan.

McFarland was born in Port Vila[2] while his parents were living and working in Vanuatu, but his family returned to New Zealand before he started school.