Martin Drury is a refreshingly candid figure who admits that becoming a head coach never featured on his original career roadmap. While he did briefly take the reins at Bradford Park Avenue in the National League North during the 2015/16 season, that stint arrived soon after his playing days ended 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. Today, he has returned to his hometown club, Huddersfield Town, this time as the man in charge. An interim appointment in March earned him a full‑time two‑year contract in May, and he now looks to guide the Terriers back to higher tiers.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Drury traced his journey from the Spanish top flight to the English Premier League and finally back to the north of England, where he is plotting Huddersfield’s escape from League One. He recalled meeting fellow English‑born Spaniard Carlos Corberán while both were working at Bradford – Drury with the club and Corberán with Leeds United. Their professional chemistry sparked 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 said. He added that on the tactical side they shared a common football philosophy despite coming from different cultural backgrounds. Corberán’s move to Valencia on Christmas Eve 2024 prompted Drury to follow only days later, taking up the role of assistant coach. The pair abandoned a promising Championship play‑off push to try and keep Los Murcielagos afloat in LaLiga.
Their start was dramatic: on 3 January 2025 they led Real Madrid at the Mestalla until the 85th minute before Luka Modrić equalised and Jude Bellingham netted a 96th‑minute winner. Drury recalled the thrill of preparing for such high‑profile fixtures, "I remember prepping for that game and thinking this was the type of environment I wanted to be in, to go up against players like Kylian Mbappé, Bellingham, Modrić.
To play them again at the back end of the season and win 2‑1 – in the last minute, in the Bernabeu – was naturally the highlight and the connection between us and the fans there was something so, so special." He also spoke candidly about the challenges of facing Barcelona, noting that even in defeat the experience of training against world‑class talent and learning from elite managers was invaluable. "When we arrived, the club were rock bottom of the league and to finish so close to Europe by the end of the season, having picked up some points against giants, was pretty special," he added. In July 2025 Drury returned to the UK, joining Brentford as one of Keith Andrews' assistant first‑team coaches. However, after only three Premier League games he departed in early September.
Director of Football Phil Giles praised his contribution, saying, "Martin has played an important role in setting us up for the season ahead." Drury echoed the sentiment, describing Brentford as an "amazing club with brilliant people" and lauding Andrews as a "top manager". He explained that sometimes a coach must evaluate whether a role fits both the club and personal ambitions, and that his conversations at Brentford were open and honest.
The brief Brentford episode forced Drury into an unexpected pause. He moved back north to be nearer his family, taking his first real break from football in over a decade. "I hadn't really had a break for 10 to 12 years, so I jumped out of that hamster wheel and, when I look back, it was quite productive in terms of connecting with people I'd not seen for a while, seeing different things, challenging myself and my thinking," he reflected, half‑joking that he "absolutely despised" the time away from the game. During this hiatus, Drury turned down a few offers, feeling he needed more time before re‑entering the fray.
Then Liam Manning reached out, inviting him to join Huddersfield Town. Drury had known Manning for some time, and the club held a special place in his heart.
"Huddersfield's close to my heart, so I was looking forward to coming in and building something special," he said. In January 2026 Drury was appointed Manning's assistant manager, and by late March he stepped up alongside Jon Stead to lead the side when Manning took compassionate leave following the tragic death of his newborn son, Theo, in October 2024. The club’s official statement confirmed the personal circumstances surrounding Manning’s absence. Under Drury’s temporary stewardship, Huddersfield recorded two wins and four draws from seven matches, ultimately missing the League One play‑offs by eight points.
Nevertheless, his performance earned him a permanent managerial appointment on 27 May 2026. The club described him as the "outstanding" candidate, noting his ability to inspire and organise the squad.
Although Drury never originally set out to be a head coach, he embraced the opportunity wholeheartedly. "I love coaching, I love being on the grass, I love working with players – but I'm pretty driven and when I really believe in something, I can feel very strongly about it," he explained. He elaborated on his philosophy, saying that when a particular culture and style of play resonate deeply, one may need to lead from the front. "In the back of my mind I thought, at some point, if I feel so strongly about a certain way of working, a culture and an environment that I want to create, maybe I was going to have to do this from the front.
That wasn't something I was concentrating on, but you can never be too surprised in football. When the opportunity became apparent, the decision was really clear for me." Drury also addressed the minor turbulence that surfaced toward the season’s end, insisting it never created a hostile environment.
He praised the staff and players for their commitment, noting that the club had already used the summer transfer window to strengthen the squad. "The fact we've now had one window and we've been able to address some areas of the group we wanted to try and strengthen, I think the players who were here last season have probably appreciated the work that's gone on because it's going to help them," he said.
He acknowledged that building cohesion takes time, especially with new signings, but emphasized the humility and development‑focused mindset of the group. "There's some connection building in the group; that's going to take some more time, as it always does when you bring in new players. But it's a real humble group of men where, every day, the environment is driven by development, with a real winning edge and a competitive focus on it," Drury observed. For Drury, the ultimate aim is to forge a team that embodies the spirit of the north.
"When I'm standing on the side of the pitch, I want to see a team that represents Huddersfield. I want to see players running and giving absolutely everything," he said. As a proud northern lad, he understands the expectations of the local fanbase. "If we do that, I have genuine belief that, because of the players and staff we have, success will be achieved," he concluded.
Huddersfield's upcoming fixtures, including a live Sky Sports+ broadcast of the Burton versus Huddersfield clash on Saturday, 3 October at 3 pm, promise to showcase the progress of Drury's project. The club also encourages supporters to engage with the Super 6 competition for a chance at a £1 million prize, highlighting the excitement surrounding the season ahead.