Who is Brian Barry-Murphy? The Leicester City coach linked with Huddersfield Town | OneFootball

Huddersfield Town are reportedly interested in the Leicester City first-team head coach for their managerial vacancy

Huddersfield Town are on the hunt for a new manager after sacking previous boss Michael Duff in March.

Although still chasing a play-off spot in League One, the Terriers have opted to finish the season with interim boss Jon Worthington.

However, that has not stopped Huddersfield from identifying targets for the role on a permanent basis, with Brian Barry-Murphy the latest name linked to the Terriers' vacancy.

Brian Barry-Murphy: From respectable EFL playing career to highly-rated coach

Many fans across the EFL might not be too familiar with Brian Barry-Murphy, who is reportedly subject to interest from Huddersfield Town to take over as their new manager, as per journalist Mike Keegan.

Defeats in recent weeks have apparently expedited Huddersfield’s hunt for a replacement for Michael Duff, with interim Jon Worthington’s time in charge at risk of being cut short.

Barry-Murphy enjoyed a long but relatively unspectacular career in the EFL, having first come to England in 1999 from hometown club Cork City.

After failing to properly breakthrough at Preston North End, Barry-Murphy went on to Sheffield Wednesday and Bury, playing over 200 times for the latter.

Upon finishing his playing career at Rochdale, Barry-Murphy was named a first-team coach at Spotland, working alongside former manager Keith Hill.

When Hill was dismissed as Rochdale manager in March 2019 Barry-Murphy remained at the club, being named interim manager.

After a month unbeaten as caretaker boss, Barry-Murphy was appointed manager on a full-time basis at Spotland.

Rochdale would go on to rise up the league table, going from the relegation spots to a respectable 16th-placed finish under Barry-Murphy.

The following season Rochdale slipped to 18th in League One during Barry-Murphy's first full season as a manager, before suffering relegation to League Two the following year.

Allowed to remain in charge for the entirety of the campaign, Barry-Murphy left Rochdale just a week before the start of the 2021/22 season.

Brian Barry-Murphy's experience coaching in the Premier League

The 46-year-old left Rochdale with a reputation for trying to “play the right way”, with a passing-based approach.

Barry-Murphy compounded this style of play when he joined Manchester City’s academy as head coach of the Elite Development Squad that same summer.

The Irishman replaced Enzo Maresca, who had left City’s youth set-up to manage Parma in Serie B.

In his first two seasons in charge of City’s under-21s, Barry-Murphy led the side to the Premier League 2 title, before departing the club at the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Cork native explained his decision on Instagram, sharing: “I will always be thankful for the opportunity to work at such a great club.

“However, I believe I have taken the role as far as possible and feel ready for a new challenge.”

That new challenge would arrive midway through this season, with Barry-Murphy joining Leicester City in December 2024.

He was installed as a first-team head coach under Ruud Van Nistelrooy, who stated that: "It's a very important factor in the translation of the game model to the training pitch, developing the team, the unit and individual to the max.

“He is excellent in that and I'm very happy to add him to the team."

But Huddersfield will hope that Barry-Murphy still harbours ambitions of being a first-team manager in the EFL, and with Leicester seemingly doomed to an instant return to the Championship, the Terriers will feel confident they can attract the former Rochdale boss to the John Smith Stadium.

Huddersfield are not the first club to consider Barry-Murphy for their managerial position. The Irishman previously applied to manage former club Preston, whilst Queens Park Rangers also had a look at Barry-Murphy when he was in charge of Manchester City's EDS side.