Martin Drury is a no‑nonsense character who admits that becoming a head coach never featured on his career roadmap. After a brief stint managing Bradford Park Avenue in the National League North during the 2015‑16 season, he slipped back into relative anonymity.
Over the following ten years he assembled a varied résumé, holding coaching roles at Boston United, Bradford City, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion and Valencia. Now, back in his hometown of Huddersfield, he has earned the top job at the Terriers. An interim appointment in March turned into a two‑year contract in May, and he has since been tasked with guiding the club out of League One.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Drury reflects on a career that has taken him from the Spanish top flight to the English lower leagues. He first crossed paths with Spanish coach Carlos Corberán while both were working in Yorkshire – Drury at Bradford and Corberán at Leeds. Their professional chemistry sparked in August 2024 when Drury joined West Brom as an individual coach, and the two discovered a shared work ethic and a mutual belief that success is earned through hard labour.
"We saw eye‑to‑eye on how we approach life and football," Drury says, noting that despite their different cultural backgrounds they share similar traits. Corberán’s move to Valencia on Christmas Eve 2024 saw Drury follow him within days, abandoning a promising Championship play‑off push to help the Spanish side avoid relegation. Their early days at the Mestalla were dramatic: Valencia led Real Madrid until the 85th minute on 3 January 2025, only for Luka Modrić to equalise and Jude Bellingham to snatch a 96th‑minute winner. Drury recalls the thrill of preparing his team to face world‑class talent such as Kylian Mbappé, Bellingham and Modrić.
"Playing them again in the Bernabéu and winning 2‑1 in the final minute was a career highlight," he says, adding that the bond forged with the Valencia supporters was "something very special". Although they lost both fixtures against Barcelona, Drury cherishes the experience of training against elite players and learning from some of the best managers in the world. When Drury arrived, Valencia were languishing at the bottom of La Liga.
By season’s end they were flirting with European qualification, a remarkable turnaround that underscored his impact. In July 2025 he was lured back to England to join Keith Andrews’ staff at Brentford as an assistant first‑team coach. However, after only three Premier League games he left the club in early September.
Director of Football Phil Giles praised Drury’s contribution, while Drury himself lauded Brentford’s professionalism and Keith Andrews’ managerial acumen. "Sometimes you have to decide if a club is the right fit for you," he explained, noting the open and honest conversations he had there. The brief West London episode forced an unexpected pause in his career. Drury moved north to be nearer his family, enjoying his first real break in over a decade.
"I hadn’t had a holiday in 10‑12 years, so stepping off the hamster wheel was surprisingly productive – I reconnected with old friends, challenged my thinking and broadened my perspective," he says, half‑joking that he "absolutely despised" the time away from football. Several offers arrived, but he turned them down, feeling he needed a longer breather. Then Liam Manning reached out, inviting him to Huddersfield Town.
Drury had known Manning for a while and felt a strong emotional tie to his hometown club, so he accepted the invitation to help build something special. In January 2026 Drury was appointed Manning’s assistant manager. By late March, after Manning took compassionate leave following the tragic death of his newborn son Theo in October 2024, Drury stepped up alongside Jon Stead to lead the first team.
Under their guidance Huddersfield recorded two wins and four draws in seven matches, narrowly missing the League One play‑offs by eight points. On 27 May the club announced Drury’s permanent appointment, describing him as the "outstanding" candidate for the role. Although he never initially aspired to be the main man, Drury now embraces the challenge fully.
"I love coaching, I love being on the training ground, I love working with players," he declares. "When I’m passionate about a philosophy, a culture and an environment, I feel compelled to lead it from the front." He notes that the latter part of the season was not fraught with internal conflict; instead, staff and players were united in wanting the best for the club. With a new transfer window now closed, he believes the squad will benefit from the adjustments made, and that the existing players will appreciate the work undertaken. Looking ahead, Drury emphasises the importance of building connections within the group, especially as new signings settle in.
"It takes time, but we have a humble set of men who are driven by development, a winning edge and a competitive mindset," he says. His ultimate vision is for Huddersfield to embody the spirit of the north.
"When I stand on the touchline I want to see a side that represents Huddersfield – players who run, give everything and reflect the grit of northern fans," he explains. As a native of the region, he understands what the supporters expect and believes that, with the right attitude and staff, success is inevitable.
Fans can catch Huddersfield’s next match against Burton Albion on Sky Sports+ on Saturday, 3 October, with kickoff at 3 pm. The club also invites supporters to try the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £1 million, entry being free of charge.