The Goalkeeper Who Became a Striker Coach… and Then a Manager

The Goalkeeper Who Became a Striker Coach… and Then a Manager

When Lee Grant hung up his gloves back in 2022, you wouldn’t have guessed at the next move he’d make. Most ex-goalkeepers go into coaching between the posts, not outfield training.

Things have not gone the usual way. Grant soon found himself working with strikers instead. What began as an unexpected twist has turned into one of the most captivating career narratives in English football.

From Hemel Hempstead to the Premier League

Lee Grant, born in Hemel Hempstead in January 1983, began his football journey at Derby County’s academy. He made his Premier League debut at just 19, later turning out for clubs like Sheffield Wednesday, Burnley, Stoke City and even Manchester United.

At Old Trafford, his role was unconventional: beyond being a dependable third-choice keeper, he became a mentor to younger players, blending support with a solid dose of insight. It’s a little-known fact, but Grant's willingness to learn from managers like José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær helped him develop a wide tactical knowledge, one not limited to goalkeeping.

Coaching Strikers: Thinking Like the Opposition

When Kieran McKenna took the helm at Ipswich Town in 2022, he asked Grant to join his staff. Instead of focusing on goalkeepers, Grant was tasked to coach the club’s forwards. It was a bold and surprising decision however was backed up by strategic creativity.

Grant’s logic? Having spent years trying to stop top strikers, he understood how their minds worked. He had a keen sense of when a forward might hesitate, how they reacted to pressure, what subtle goalkeeper cues gave away an attacker’s next move. That switch from saving goals to coaching how to score them was both logical and brilliant.

Ipswich flourished. In the 2022–23 League One season, they scored well over 100 goals and secured promotion with ease. Players credited Grant with improving their one-on-one instincts after encouraging smart movements that unsettled keepers.

A Leap into Management: Huddersfield Town

Fast-forward to May 2025: Huddersfield Town named Grant as their new manager, entrusting him with the club’s future. He signed a three-year deal, quickly setting about rebuilding the squad. Among the new arrivals were league-proven striker Alfie May and midfield lynchpin Ryan Ledson.

Right out of the gate, the results looked promising, with a 3–0 opening day win.

Game 1️⃣
Victory 1️⃣

Lee Grant's Huddersfield Town are up and running 👏#htafc pic.twitter.com/Bzu2V2kHZp

— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) August 3, 2025

This wasn’t just about football results, but about a philosophy. Grant urged his team to “think like strikers,” even when defending. It wasn’t a catchy slogan, it was his way of applying the mentality shift he had mastered himself.

A Coaching Philosophy Built on Empathy

Grant’s methods feel fresh because they are. Training sessions often feature role-swaps, such as his strikers being in goal or defenders leading attacking drills, as well as forwards listening in on defender positioning. This cross-pollination helps players grasp the wider game and not just their own positions.

In an era where football increasingly values versatility, Grant’s ideas are quietly revolutionary. He champions a shared understanding across the team. He wants defenders to anticipate how attackers think and goalkeepers to model forward aggression. Everyone learns from stepping into another’s boots.

Cautious Optimism and High Stakes

Not everyone’s convinced, though. After all, it’s one thing to coach brilliantly, and another to manage a whole club. Holding the team’s attention and planning for matches every three/four days results in pressure and different skillset altogether. Still, the gamble feels calculated.

Huddersfield believed that innovation, not formula, was their best route back to the Championship. History shows that the most memorable managers often emerge from unexpected backgrounds.

Why Lee Grant’s Story Matters

From a business perspective, what Grant represents is modern football’s evolution. Big budgets used to dominate, but now, differentiation matters. Clubs need ideas, not just money. Hiring someone like Grant is a statement: we are willing to think creatively and give different kinds of people a shot.

You might want to check out our League One predictions page to see how Huddersfield look under this new management.

What Comes Next?

The real test begins now. If Huddersfield mount a serious promotion push, Lee Grant could emerge as one of English football’s most intriguing manager stories. If things falter, critics will question whether a goalkeeper, turned-striker coach, was ever cut out for the managerial grind.

Regardless of what follows, Grant’s path, from shot-stopper to shot-creator to tactician, has already rewritten the playbook for post-playing careers.