“No. Actually, it wasn’t.”
Martin Drury is a straight talker, open about the fact that it was never in his plans to become a head coach.
True, he was in charge of Bradford Park Avenue in the National League North for most of 2015/16, but that came too soon after his retirement and he soon faded into the background.
Over the next decade, he built a coaching career that spanned Boston United, Bradford City, Manchester United, West Brom and Valencia.
Now at Huddersfield – the team of the town in which he was born – he is in charge of himself. An interim period from March led to a two-year deal in May.
Here, he shows Sky Sports about his journey from LaLiga to the Premier League to plot the Terriers’ way out of League One.
Six ‘special’ months in Spain
Drury met Carlos Corberan while he was at Bradford and the Spaniard was at Leeds. The two began working together in August 2024 when Drury was appointed sole manager at West Brom.
“When I first met Carlos, I felt we were connected from a work ethic perspective and we were very connected in the way we looked at life and earning everything you get in life through work,” he says.
“On the football side, we were very attached to what we believed and what we really believed we could do with the players. I think we have some similar characteristics, despite being from different cultures.”
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Huddersfield manager Martin Drury relives games against Barcelona and Real Madrid during his time as Valencia assistant in early 2025.
Corberan left for Valencia on Christmas Eve 2024 and Drury followed within days of being appointed as his assistant. A push into the Championship play-offs was sacrificed for the challenge of retention Bats at night in La Liga.
They almost had the perfect start, leading Real Madrid at the Mestalla until the 85th minute on 3 January 2025, when Luka Modric equalized and Jude Bellingham scored the winner in the 96th minute.
“I remember getting ready for that game and thinking this is the kind of environment I want to be in, to face players like Kylian Mbappe, Bellingham, Modric.
“To play them again at the end of the season and win 2-1 – in the last minute, at the Bernabeu – was of course the highlight and the bond between us and the fans was something so, so special.
Carlos Corberan brought Drury to West Brom and took him to Valencia
“We struggled in both games against Barcelona, but to see the quality of the player at that level and to prepare for those games against some of the best coaches in the world, the best players in the world, on a weekly basis, it was something I enjoyed.”
“When we arrived the club were bottom of the league and to finish so close to Europe by the end of the season, getting a few points against the giants was very special.
“Sometimes you have to evaluate if you’re the one for a club”
Drury was tempted back to the UK in July 2025 when he was appointed as one of Keith Andrews’ first team assistant coaches at Brentford.
But in early September, after just three games in the Premier League, he left. “Martin has played an important role in our preparation for next season,” said director of football Phil Giles.
“It’s a great club with great people and I don’t think you can do anything but respect what they do,” says Drury.
The 40-year-old worked under Keith Andrews at Brentford for a short spell
“They are incredible from top to bottom. Keith has done an incredible job and I really enjoyed it.
“Sometimes in football you just have to assess if it’s right for you and if you’re right for the club.
“The conversations I had there were really open and honest, but I look at them from afar and I’m very happy with the way they went last season.
“I honestly think they will be even stronger this season because Keith is a top manager, they have a very good group of players and the club is run perfectly from top to bottom.”
Going back to where it all began
The premature departure from west London brought an unplanned hiatus to Drury’s career.
“I moved back up north to be near my family and it was the first time in 12 years that I had some time away from football… which I absolutely despised!” he says, only half joking.
“I hadn’t had a break for 10 to 12 years, so I jumped off that hamster wheel and, looking back, it was quite productive in terms of connecting with people I hadn’t seen in a while, going and seeing different things, challenging myself and my thoughts.
“I had a few opportunities to go to different clubs but I said no because I felt I needed a bit more, then I was really lucky to get a call from Liam Manning who asked me to come to Huddersfield with him.
“I had known Liam a while back and Huddersfield was close to my heart so I was looking forward to coming in and looking to build something special.”
In January 2026, Drury was appointed assistant manager to Manning and, in late March, along with Jon Stead, he stepped up to take charge when Manning was given compassionate leave.
A statement from the club’s official website said: “Liam has made the club aware of ongoing personal issues relating to the tragic death of his newborn son Theo in October 2024.”
Huddersfield have won two and drawn four of their seven games in charge of Drury, dropping eight points in the League One play-offs.
“When I believe in something, I can feel very strongly about it”
Drury’s permanent appointment came on 27 May. The club said he had established himself as the “outstanding” candidate.
Despite his lack of prior desire to be responsible in his own right, he was all in on the project.
“I love training, I love being in the bar, I love working with players – but I’m very driven and when I really believe in something, I can feel a lot about it.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Highlights of the Sky Bet League One game between Bromley and Huddersfield
“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 should do it up front. It wasn’t something I was focusing on, but you can never be too surprised in football.
“When the opportunity presented itself, the decision was really clear to me.
“When there was a bit of turbulence towards the end of the season, I never felt it was a really challenging environment to work in or difficult people to work with. I felt there were a lot of people who wanted the best for the club.
“The fact that we’ve now had a window and been able to address some areas of the squad that we wanted to try and strengthen, I think the players who were here last season have probably appreciated the work that’s been done because that will help them.
“There’s some bonding in the group; it’s going to take a bit more time, as it always does when you bring in new players. But it’s a real humble group of guys where, every day, the environment is development driven, with a real winning edge and a competitive focus to it.”
Drury knows what he wants – he wants his team to embody the spirit of the North.
“When I stand on the side of the pitch I want to see a team representing Huddersfield. I want to see the players running and giving absolutely everything,” he adds.
“Being a northern boy myself, I know what these northern fans want.
“If we do that, I have a sincere belief that, thanks to the players and the staff we have, success will be achieved.”
Watch Burton vs Huddersfield live on Sky Sports+ on Saturday 3 October; departure at 15:00.
