Ex-Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers striker lands new Huddersfield Town coaching role | OneFootball

Jon Stead has been appointed assistant coach at Huddersfield Town following Martin Drury’s appointment as permanent head coach.

Huddersfield confirmed Drury after the League One season ended, with Stead part of his staff. According to Sunderland Echo, the 43-year-old rejoined his hometown club earlier this year after Liam Manning’s January 2026 arrival and will remain in the first-team set-up.

The former Sunderland forward joined from Blackburn Rovers in 2005, making 40 appearances and scoring two goals, before leaving for Sheffield United in January 2007 after a loan at Derby County.

An academy graduate, he debuted for Huddersfield in 2002 and hit 18 goals in 2003-04 to earn a move to Blackburn. His career also took in Ipswich Town, Bristol City, Notts County and Harrogate Town, plus two Terriers spells.

Stead retired in 2021 after more than 700 senior appearances and 165 goals, then coached with Hartford Athletic, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Barnsley and Bristol Rovers before returning to Huddersfield.

His new role deepens longstanding ties with the club he supported as a boy. Former Sunderland man Lynden Gooch is on Huddersfield’s books and will work under Stead next season should he remain at the club this summer.

Source: Sunderland Echo