Martin Drury is a no‑nonsense character who openly admits that becoming a head coach never featured on his career blueprint. While he briefly took the reins at 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 soon slipped back into the shadows. Over the following ten years he assembled a varied coaching résumé that saw him work at Boston United, Bradford City, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion and Valencia CF.
Today he finds himself back in his hometown, leading Huddersfield Town – the club of the town that raised him – after an interim spell that began in March and earned him a two‑year contract in May. In a candid interview with Sky Sports, Drury reflects on a journey that has taken him from the Spanish top flight to the English Premier League and now to the task of guiding the Terriers out of League One. His connection with Spanish coach Carlos Corberán began when Drury was at Bradford and Corberán was a youth coach at Leeds.
The pair first collaborated in August 2024 when Drury was hired as an individual coach at West Brom. "When I first met Carlos, I felt we clicked on a work‑ethic level and we shared a belief that everything you achieve comes from hard work," Drury recalls. "On the football side we were aligned in our philosophy and in what we thought we could accomplish with players.
Even though we come from different cultures, we share similar traits." Corberán departed for Valencia on Christmas Eve 2024, and Drury followed a few days later, accepting a role as his assistant. The move meant abandoning a promising Championship play‑off push in England for the challenge of keeping Los Murcielagos afloat in LaLiga. Their start was dramatic: on 3 January 2025 they led Real Madrid at the Mestalla until the 85th minute, only for Luka Modrić to equalise and Jude Bellingham to snatch a 96th‑minute winner.
"I remember preparing for that game and thinking this was the environment I wanted – facing the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Bellingham and Modrić," Drury says. "Playing them again later in the season and winning 2‑1 at the Bernabéu in the final minute was a highlight, and the bond we built with the fans was extraordinary." Although they suffered defeats against Barcelona, Drury cherishes the experience of training against world‑class talent and learning from some of the best managers on a weekly basis.
"When we arrived the club were at the bottom of the table, and to finish just outside European qualification, picking up points against giants, was special," he adds. 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 fixtures he left the club in early September. Director of Football Phil Giles praised his contribution, noting that Drury had helped lay the groundwork for the season.
Drury himself lauded Brentford, calling the organisation "outstanding from top to bottom" and praising Andrews as an "unbelievable" manager. He explained that sometimes a coach must decide whether a particular environment is the right fit, and after honest conversations he concluded that his future lay elsewhere. The abrupt exit from West London forced a brief hiatus in his career. "I moved back up north to be close to family and it was the first time in twelve years I spent any time away from football – which I absolutely despised, half‑joking," he admits.
After a decade of continuous work, Drury says the break allowed him to reconnect with old friends, explore new ideas and challenge his own thinking. He turned down a few offers during this period, feeling he needed more time before jumping back in. Fortune smiled when Liam Manning reached out, inviting Drury to join Huddersfield Town.
Having known Manning for some time and feeling a strong personal connection to Huddersfield, Drury was eager to help build something special. In January 2026 he was appointed Manning's assistant, and by late March, alongside former striker Jon Stead, he stepped into the caretaker role when Manning took compassionate leave following the tragic death of his newborn son, Theo, in October 2024. During his seven‑game spell in charge, Huddersfield recorded two wins and four draws, ultimately missing the League One play‑offs by eight points.
Nevertheless, the club announced on 27 May that Drury had earned the permanent manager's job, describing him as the "outstanding" candidate for the role. Even though he never originally set out to be a head coach, Drury now embraces the challenge wholeheartedly. "I love coaching, I love being on the training ground, I love working with players – but I'm driven, and when I truly believe in something I feel very strongly about it," he says.
He explains that his philosophy is rooted in a clear vision of culture and environment: "In the back of my mind I thought, if I feel strongly about a certain way of working, maybe I have to lead from the front. That wasn't my original plan, but football is full of surprises.
When the opportunity presented itself, the decision was obvious." Reflecting on the latter part of the season, Drury notes that despite some turbulence, the atmosphere remained constructive. "I never felt it was a hostile or difficult environment – many people wanted the best for the club," he observes. He is pleased that the summer transfer window allowed the squad to be strengthened, and believes the players who stayed will appreciate the groundwork that has been laid.
"Building connections takes time, especially when you bring in new faces, but we have a humble group of men who each day are driven by development, a winning edge and a competitive mindset," he adds. Drury is clear about the identity he wants his team to embody. "When I'm standing on the touchline, I want to see a side that represents Huddersfield – players giving everything, running with passion," he explains.
As a proud northern lad, he feels he understands what the local supporters expect. "If we deliver that intensity, I genuinely believe that, with the players and staff we have, success will follow."