Jon Stead takes assistant role as Martin Drury named Huddersfield Town head coach | OneFootball

Jon Stead has taken an assistant coaching role at Huddersfield Town after Martin Drury was appointed permanent head coach. According to Sunderland Echo, the former Sunderland striker will join Drury’s staff following the end of the League One season.

The move extends Stead’s return to his hometown club, having joined the Terriers’ first-team coaching group earlier this year. He had been working at Huddersfield following Liam Manning’s arrival in January 2026, and will now remain as Drury leads the club on a permanent basis.

Stead, 43, had a brief spell at Sunderland after signing from Blackburn Rovers in 2005. He made 40 appearances and scored twice, opening his account at Everton in April 2006 before netting again in a defeat at Southend United in August 2006.

He left Sunderland for Sheffield United in January 2007 after a loan at Derby County. Further spells followed with Ipswich Town, Bristol City, Notts County, Harrogate Town and two stints at Huddersfield.

An academy graduate, he debuted for Huddersfield in 2002, then hit 18 goals in 2003-04 to earn a move to Premier League Blackburn Rovers.

Stead retired in 2021 after more than 700 senior appearances and 165 goals. He has since held assistant posts with Hartford Athletic, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Barnsley and Bristol Rovers before rejoining Huddersfield.

His latest role keeps a boyhood supporter involved at a club of deep personal significance. Former Sunderland man Lynden Gooch remains on Huddersfield’s books and will work under Stead next season should he stay this summer.

Source: Sunderland Echo