Martin Drury is a refreshingly candid figure who admits that never in his early ambitions did he picture himself as a head coach. While he briefly took charge of Bradford Park Avenue in the National League North during the 2015/16 season, that stint arrived shortly after he hung up his boots and he soon slipped back into the shadows.
Over the subsequent ten years he forged a varied coaching résumé, holding roles at Boston United, Bradford City, Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion and Valencia. Today he finds himself back in his hometown, leading Huddersfield Town – a club that carries the name of the town where he was born. After an interim spell that began in March, the club rewarded him with a two‑year contract in May, cementing his status as the man in charge.
In a conversation with Sky Sports, Drury reflected on his journey from the Spanish top flight to England’s lower leagues and his current mission to guide the Terriers back to higher ground. He first crossed paths with Spanish coach Carlos Corberán while both were working at different clubs – Drury at Bradford and Corberán at Leeds – and the two forged a professional bond 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 a common philosophy about how to develop players, despite coming from very different cultural backgrounds." Corberán’s move to Valencia on Christmas Eve 2024 prompted Drury to follow him a few days later, leaving a promising Championship play‑off push behind to help the Spanish side stay in LaLiga. The pair enjoyed an almost fairy‑tale start, holding Real Madrid level 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 preparing for that game and thinking this was the environment I wanted – facing the likes of Kylian Mbappé, Bellingham and Modrić.
To beat them again at the Bernabeu in the final minute was a career highlight, and the connection with the fans was extraordinary." Although the side fell short against Barcelona on both occasions, Drury valued the exposure to world‑class talent and the chance to plan against some of the best managers in the game. "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 special," he said. In July 2025 Drury returned to England, joining Keith Andrews’ staff at Brentford as an assistant first‑team coach. However, after only three Premier League fixtures he departed in early September.
Club director of football Phil Giles praised his contribution, noting that Drury had helped lay foundations for the upcoming season. Drury himself spoke highly of Brentford, describing the organization as "outstanding from top to bottom" and acknowledging Keith Andrews as a "top manager". He added that sometimes a coach must assess whether a role is the right fit, and his conversations at Brentford were open and honest, leaving him with a positive impression of the club’s future.
The brief West London episode forced Drury into an unexpected hiatus. He moved back north to be nearer his family, admitting it was the first time in over a decade he spent a period away from football – a break he "absolutely despised" in a half‑joking tone. Yet he recognised the value of stepping off the relentless hamster wheel, using the time to reconnect with old contacts, explore new ideas and challenge his own thinking. When an opportunity arose from Liam Manning at Huddersfield, Drury accepted, noting his affection for the club and the chance to build something special.
In January 2026 Drury was appointed Manning’s assistant, 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. Under Drury’s interim stewardship Huddersfield recorded two wins and four draws from seven games, narrowly missing the League One play‑offs by eight points.
His performance earned him a permanent managerial contract on 27 May, with the club describing him as the "outstanding" candidate for the role. Despite his earlier reluctance to become 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 explained.
He added that a clear vision for the club’s culture and environment eventually made the step into the front‑line inevitable. "When the opportunity became apparent, the decision was clear for me," he said. Drury also highlighted the positive atmosphere within the squad, noting that even when there was a little turbulence at the season’s end, he never felt the environment was toxic or the people difficult. He praised the commitment of staff and players, emphasizing that the club had already begun to address areas needing reinforcement and that the existing squad appreciated the work being done.
"There’s a process of building connections when new players arrive, but it’s a humble group of men driven daily by development, a winning edge and a competitive focus," he observed. For Drury, the ultimate goal is to see a team that embodies the spirit of the North. "When I’m standing on the side of the pitch, I want to see a side that represents Huddersfield – players giving everything, running with heart," he said.
As a northern lad himself, he understands what the local fans expect. "If we deliver that, I genuinely believe success will follow because of the players and staff we have," he concluded.