Huddersfield Town v Bradford City: 'I can't stand ego': Liam Manning on his coaching journey, humility and learning

His reputation is the game is good and his CV seems a glossy one at first glance. His previous time working for the City Football Group with New York City and Belgian outfit Lommel SK marked him out as a bit of a trendy name to follow on the circuit in particular.

His coaching journey, in fairness, started out in far less rarefied circles and is every bit as important, if not more so.

An aspiring player at Ipswich Town, Manning was shown the door at the age of 20.

His own self-awareness told him that he wasn't good enough to make it as a professional. So instead, he went semi-pro with non-league side Leiston before later being asked back to coach some academy youngsters at Portman Road.

He balanced both for a while. It involved long hours, wasn't particularly well-paid or a glamourous life either.

But Manning loved it. Two decades on and he's made a living from coaching.

Manning's story is a grounded one. He was not an ex-professional with a decorated playing career who was seeking to continue his involvement in football. His coaching route wasn't conventional either.

And so the baton has been handed to him at Huddersfield Town.

There were the usual questions about footballing philosophy, aims and this, that and the other at his first press conference on Friday afternoon.

His coaching credentials, aside from a blip at last club Norwich City, which can happen to anyone, speak for themselves.

It was Manning's comments about character and mindset which were particularly revealing.

Huddersfield are a 'big fish' in League One circles. His previous clubs at this level in MK Dons and Oxford United weren't as well-heeled in truth.

What he did do at both was upset big rivals who believed that they didn't belong in the third tier and maybe possessed a bit of entitlement, subconsciously.

Some might suggest that Huddersfield even fall into that bracket a little.

Manning, who steps out in front of Terriers supporters for the first time today on derby day, said: "I'll be honest, I can't stand ego. It drives me insane. Humility is everything.

"What you do in previous seasons counts for learning and understanding. But what it counts for today is nothing.

"For me, everyone needs to park their ego. I think ultimately it's all on the actions that you deliver in the now.

"That's very much how I think for players, staff, everybody. We can't live in the past. I think that's really important. We are where we are today.

"We need to make sure that we understand the margins in the Football League are so tight, irrespective of the money you invest in the team."

And Huddersfield have certainly spent more than most at this level. The fact that Kevin Nagle has not had much bang for his buck is why Manning has come into the equation.

Widely perceived as a possession-based coach, Manning, who has had two decades in coaching, is flexible.

What he demands above all else is intensity and aggression from players and a 'purpose to their actions' as he puts it.

But it all starts with 'behaviours'. Back to mentality again.

Manning suffered a blow to his pride in his previous short-lived tenure at Norwich, the club where he used to have a season ticket. His sacking was hurtful, but time out was instructive.

He was candid in his appraisal of what went wrong, as he did when he was axed by MK Dons in late 2022.

In his next job at Oxford, he was a 'much better version of himself' and earned a move to higher-division Bristol City.

The hope in the now is that Town will benefit, just as Oxford did.

He added: "I've used the last few months wisely in terms of understanding where it went wrong, what I'd do differently, what will make me better and what do I change? I'm a thinker like that.

"Of course it hurts, you're frustrated and disappointed, but you can sit around, mope and feel sorry for yourself or you can do something about it and ask yourself hard questions and push yourself.

"I think when you look at it, football is mad. If you look at where I was at eight months ago (taking Bristol City to the Championship play-offs), all of a sudden 17 games later, you're a bad coach…

"I don't believe that. It's how you use those experiences to get better."

Manning didn't feel sorry for himself when he was released by Ipswich all those years ago too. When has happened since has also plainly shown he's a fighter.

"I failed as a player and started out as an academy coach and I've had to fight to get here,” he said.

“I think I got my coaching opportunity at Ipswich because of my behaviours. I was honest, hard-working; I was very limited as a footballer but gave absolutely everything.

"I think that they are things that are probably instilled in me now in terms of my work ethic, toughness, resilience, fighting mentality, grit. I have come from tough times in life and I think that's what you need to use."