Martin Drury brings Valencia experience and northern grit to Huddersfield promotion push
Drury takes charge at the club closest to his heart
Martin Drury never set out to become a head coach. Yet after a decade working behind the scenes at clubs including Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion, Valencia and Brentford, the Huddersfield-born coach is now leading his hometown club’s bid to escape League One.
Drury joined Huddersfield as Liam Manning’s assistant in January 2026 and stepped up alongside Jon Stead when Manning took compassionate leave. He oversaw two wins and four draws in seven matches, although the Terriers ultimately missed the League One play-offs by eight points.
His work during that spell convinced the club that he was the “outstanding” candidate for the permanent job. Huddersfield confirmed his appointment on May 27, handing him a two-year contract.
From Spain’s relegation battle to a Bernabeu triumph
Drury’s coaching journey took a major step forward when he reunited with Carlos Corberan at West Brom in August 2024. He followed Corberan to Valencia a few months later, joining the Spanish club’s staff as it fought to remain in LaLiga.
The experience gave Drury the chance to prepare a team for matches against some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Valencia nearly stunned Real Madrid at Mestalla in January 2025 before Luka Modric equalised and Jude Bellingham scored a late winner. Later in the season, Valencia secured a memorable 2-1 victory at the Bernabeu.
“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,” Drury said. He also relished facing elite opponents such as Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona during a campaign in which Valencia climbed from the bottom of the table to finish close to European qualification.
A short Brentford spell led him home
Drury returned to England in July 2025 as one of Keith Andrews’ assistant first-team coaches at Brentford. However, he left after only three Premier League matches, deciding that the role and the club were not the right fit at that point in his career.
“Sometimes in football, you just have to assess whether it’s the one for you and whether you’re the right one for the club,” he said, while praising Brentford’s organisation and the work done by Andrews.
The departure also gave Drury a rare break from football. He moved north to be closer to his family and admitted that, despite finding the time away useful, he “absolutely despised” being outside the game after 10 to 12 years without a break.
Building a Huddersfield identity
Drury says Huddersfield’s connection to his upbringing made the decision to take the job straightforward. He wants the team to reflect the town through its effort, competitiveness and resilience.
“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. “Being a northern lad myself, I know what these northern fans want.”
After one transfer window, Drury believes the squad is beginning to take shape. New additions have strengthened areas identified by the coaching staff, while the existing players are adapting to a group culture centred on improvement and a “real winning edge”.
“I love coaching, I love being on the grass, I love working with players,” Drury said. “When the opportunity became apparent, the decision was really clear for me.”
Huddersfield’s next opportunity to show that identity comes against Burton, with the match scheduled to be shown live on Sky Sports+ on Saturday October 3, with kick-off at 3pm.