Martin Drury is the sort of straight‑talking character who never imagined himself in the hot seat as a head coach. Although he briefly took charge of Bradford Park Avenue in the National League North during the 2015‑16 season, that stint came shortly after he hung up his boots and he quickly slipped back into the shadows. Over the following ten years he assembled a varied coaching résumé, holding roles at Boston United, Bradford City, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion and Valencia, before finally landing back in his hometown club, Huddersfield Town, as the man in charge. His journey, which began in the lower leagues and wound its way through LaLiga and the Premier League, is a story of unexpected opportunities and a relentless work ethic.
Drury first crossed paths with Spanish coach Carlos Corberán while both were working in Yorkshire – Drury at Bradford and Corberán at Leeds. The two struck up a professional friendship in August 2024 when Drury was hired as an individual coach at West Brom. "When I first met Carlos, I felt we connected from a work‑ethic perspective and we were very much aligned in how we saw life and earning everything you get in life through work," Drury recalled. "On the football side we shared the same philosophy about what we could achieve with players, despite coming from different cultures." Corberán’s move to Valencia on Christmas Eve 2024 saw Drury follow him within days, swapping a promising Championship play‑off push for the daunting task of keeping the Murcian side afloat in Spain’s top flight.
The pair enjoyed a fairy‑tale start, leading Real Madrid at the Mestalla until the 85th minute on 3 January 2025 before Luka Modrić equalised and Jude Bellingham snatched a 96th‑minute winner. Drury reminisced, "I remember prepping for that game and thinking this was the type of environment I wanted – going up against the likes of Mbappé, Bellingham, Modrić.
To win 2‑1 in the dying seconds at the Bernabéu was the highlight and the bond with the fans was something extraordinary." Even though Valencia struggled against Barcelona, the experience of preparing for world‑class opponents and learning from elite managers left an indelible mark on Drury. "When we arrived the club were at the bottom of the table, and to finish flirting with European places by season’s end, picking up points against giants, was pretty special," he said.
In July 2025 Drury was lured back to England to become one of Keith Andrews’ assistant first‑team coaches at Brentford. However, after only three Premier League fixtures he departed in early September. Director of Football Phil Giles praised his contribution, saying, "Martin played an important role in setting us up for the season ahead." Drury echoed the sentiment, noting the professionalism of the club and the respect he held for Andrews, while acknowledging that sometimes a coach must decide whether a role truly fits. The brief Brentford episode forced an unexpected pause in his career.
He returned north to be nearer his family, taking his first real break in more than a decade. "I’d not really had a break for 10 to 12 years, so I jumped out of that hamster wheel. It turned out to be productive – reconnecting with old friends, seeing new things and challenging my own thinking," Drury admitted, half‑joking that he despised being away from football. Opportunities knocked elsewhere, but Drury chose to wait.
When Liam Manning reached out, inviting him to join Huddersfield Town, the offer resonated. "Huddersfield is close to my heart, and I was excited to help build something special," he explained.
In January 2026 Drury became Manning’s assistant manager, and by late March he stepped up alongside Jon Stead to take charge while Manning was on compassionate leave following the tragic loss of his newborn son, Theo, in October 2024. During Drury’s interim spell the Terriers recorded two wins and four draws from seven games, ultimately missing the League One play‑offs by eight points. Nevertheless, the club announced on 27 May that Drury had earned a permanent managerial contract, describing him as the "outstanding" candidate for the role.
Although he never set out to be a head coach, the chance to shape the club’s culture proved irresistible. "I love coaching, I love being on the grass, I love working with players – but I’m driven.
When I truly believe in a way of working, a culture and an environment, I feel compelled to lead from the front," Drury said. He added that the brief turbulence at the end of the season never felt like a hostile environment; rather, he sensed a collective desire to see the club succeed. Looking ahead, Drury is focused on strengthening the squad during the transfer window and fostering deeper connections among the players. "There’s a lot of work to do building chemistry, especially when you bring in new faces.
It’s a humble group of men, driven daily by development, a winning edge and a competitive focus," he noted. His north‑country roots shape his vision for the team.
"When I’m on the touchline I want to see a side that represents Huddersfield – players giving everything, running with passion," he declared. "As a northern lad I understand what the fans expect. If we deliver that commitment, I genuinely believe success will follow given the players and staff we have." Fans can catch Huddersfield in action against Burton on Sky Sports+ on Saturday 3 October, kick‑off at 3 pm, and there’s even a chance to win £1 million in the Super 6 competition.