Former England Under-19 coach Martin Hunter was named as Norwich's new first team coach on June 16th 2006, and took up the role ten days later when the Canaries returned for pre-season training.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for me," Hunter told Norwich City's official website. "Norwich City is a very ambitious club and I was very impressed with the way things are run. I very much enjoy the day-to-day element of working with the players so I'm very much looking forward to taking my first session with the club on June 26. I've had two or three other offers to return to club football, but this offer was too good an opportunity to turn down."

Norwich City manager Nigel Worthington believed the Canaries would benefit from Hunter's vast experience in the game. "We're delighted we've been able to secure the services of Martin Hunter. He is a person I have admired for a long time and somebody who will be of great value to myself and Norwich City. He will bring a wealth of ideas and lots of enthusiasm."

Hunter had been with the FA for the past 13 years, working his way up from a regional director of coaching. Before that he was assistant manager at Bradford and Stoke. Whilst with the England Youth Team, he coached the likes of Joe Cole, Theo Walcott and Michael Carrick, not to mention Norwich's Ryan Jarvis, Ian Henderson and Joe Lewis.

When Nigel Worthington was sacked on 2nd October 2006, following the diabolical televised 4-1 home defeat to Burnley, Martin was placed in temporary control of the first team. The permanent position went to Peter Grant

On 17th June 2007, The People reported that new Wigan manager Chris Hutchings wants to bring Hunter to Wigan as his number two. This was dismissed by Hunter but a month later, Hunter was absent from Norwich's pre-season tour of Holland. Peter Grant explained that ""I got a phonecall from Aidy Boothroyd on Thursday evening asking me for permission to speak to Martin. I think that was after the horse had bolted, really, because I think that talk had been going on. “If people show an inkling of not wanting to be here any longer, I don't give them very much time here. I think it's the right thing. Martin will move on, to Watford probably.”

Martin's move to Watford was completed on 25th July 2007 with compensation paid to Norwich. He will share the first team coach's position with Malky Mackay. When Adrian Boothoryd left Watford by mutual consent in November 2008, Mackay as appointed caretaker manager with Hunter assisting him . When Brendan Foster was appointed as the new Watford manager, Hunter left the club.

On 13th July 2010, Hunter was named as Southampton's new under-21 coach. He said: "Occasionally football throws up a unique opportunity, and while there were other irons in the fire there is a clear enthusiasm to develop a team of the future here which was too good a chance to turn down. I am very much looking forward to improving and developing the football development support centre and providing future star players for Southampton."

On 1st July 2014, Hunter was promoted to Technical Director as part of new manager Ronald Koeman's new look management team which features former Liverpool star Sammy Lee as first team assistant coach and Dave Watson as goalkeeping coach, signed from Norwich.

In November 2018, Hunter left Southampton as part of areshuffle that also saw Les Reed leave the Saints. Criticism had been directed at the lack of youth team players progressing into the first team.