Huddersfield's Man(ning) of the Hour: Is there Reason for Excitement

Huddersfield's Man(ning) of the Hour: Is there Reason for Excitement?

It now feels faintly surreal to recall Huddersfield Town as a Premier League club at all.

This is not to say that The Terriers do not have an amazing history. 32 seasons spent in the top flight of English football, winners of the 1921/22 FA Cup, and they were the first team in England to win the league in three successive seasons (1923-26).

The problem, of course, is chronology. Those achievements belong to another era. In fact, since the end of World War II, Huddersfield have played just 13 seasons in England’s most premier division, their historical reputation increasingly at odds with their modern reality.

Even their recent brushes with the elite in England’s top division have been fleeting. Before David Wagner masterminded a euphoric promotion in 2017, their last spell came between 1970 and 1972.

On both occasions, survival proved beyond reach. Each top-flight spell lasted two seasons, with the second campaign in both cases descending into an embarrassing struggle where The Terriers would end bottom of their respective table.

Viewed through that lens, Huddersfield’s recent Premier League years feel more like an anomaly than a foundation to build on. A blip in which they disturbed the elites, were toyed with, then disposed of.

And in the present tense, Huddersfield appear further away than ever in sparking a comeback.

Sixth in League One, 10th last year, and for the first time in over 13 years, they are without their captain and talisman, Jonathan Hogg, who has moved into a player-coach role within the academy.

And despite sitting in a playoff position, Huddersfield have played more games than practically every team below them. Were those chasing to capitalise on their games in hand, Town could find themselves slipping as low as 11th.

It is therefore no surprise that manager Lee Grant has been dismissed. The former Manchester United shot-stopper would be relieved of his duties just seven months into his first senior managerial role. His time at the club comes to an end with just a 41.67% win rate.

The higher-ups at the club have made quick work in a new appointment. With Grant’s sacking coming on 17 January after his side's 3-1 loss away to Burton Albion, a new manager has already been installed.

Yesterday, on 20 January, Liam Manning was announced as the new manager of Huddersfield Town.

Sporting Director Chris Markham has had his say on the appointment of Liam Manning 💬#htafc pic.twitter.com/uaBaap9NGi

— Huddersfield Town (@htafc) January 20, 2026

Liam Manning - Progress or Another Restet?

Manning’s journey to West Yorkshire has been neither glamorous nor rushed. Unlike the archetypal modern manager fast-tracked through elite academies, his path has been shaped by education and patience.

His playing career was not one to write home about. Manning spent six years playing football, all for lower league sides in the English football pyramid—albeit for one year spent in Iceland playing for third division side Selfoss.

It was at West Ham United that Manning truly honed his coaching craft. After leaving Ipswich Town, where he had worked within the academy, he joined West Ham’s Under-23 setup, working with a cohort that included Arthur Masuaku, Sofiane Feghouli and a young Declan Rice.

When talking about Rice ahead of his side, Bristol City, travelling to the London Stadium to face his old club in the third round of the 2023/24 FA Cup, Manning said, “Dec was an Under-17 when I joined in 2015, going from schoolboy to a scholar.

“He was the only one in his group that hadn’t been given a pro contract.

“His reaction summed him up; he kept his head down and grafted harder than ever. He was captain of the youth team and the best player every week.”

For Huddersfield supporters, the hope is that Manning can foster a similar resilience and upward trajectory within the club’s own academy, whilst, hopefully, becoming a catalyst in promotion back to the Championship.

That ambition, however, takes place after the most chastening period of his career as a manager thus far. After leading Bristol City to the Championship play-offs for the first time since 2007/08, Manning left to join boyhood side Norwich City.

But the fairytale story ended there. After being awarded a four-year contract upon his joining of the club, Norwich and Manning went through a torrid period, which resulted in the Englishman being sacked after just 17 games.

During his tenure, Manning failed to win a single home game and left the club languishing in the relegation zone, ahead of only Sheffield Wednesday, who were propping up the table on negative points.

Whilst that is a blip on a managerial record which stands strong, there is no doubt that this will be a test for Manning. He is charged with reinvigorating a wilted side which has no wins in its previous four league matches.

One thing I can say for certain is, Liam Manning will have my full backing, just like all of his predecessors did.

Fans have been through the mill in recent years. Patience is at an all time low and rightfully so we are as expectant as ever.

Give him a fair shot. UTT. #Htafc

— Hotline Htafc (@HotlineHtafc_) January 20, 2026

His opening games come at home against high-flying Bradford City, who are looking to complete back-to-back promotions, followed by a clash with Luton Town, a side still reeling from successive relegations over the past two seasons.