Hull City are in talks with Kayserispor boss Sergej Jakirovic to be their new head coach. The Bosnian is currently in charge of the Turkish Super Lig side but has been identified by Acun Ilicali as the man he believes can guide City to Championship success.
Speculation has grown in the past 24 hours linking the Bosnian with the Tigers as a surprise candidate. Hull Live has had it confirmed Jakirovic is indeed top of the Tigers’ wanted list and has already started talks with a view to becoming the club’s new manager.
Jakirovic was a surprise appointment when he took charge of Kayserispor in January. The club were third bottom of the Super Lig but he’s inspired an upturn in results and moved them well away from danger and into the safety of mid-table.
One of his stand-out results came against Ilicali’s Fenerbahce when Kayserispor drew 3-3 at the Sukru Saracoglu Stadium back in late April, and his side beat Emre Belozoglu’s Antalyaspor 3-1 shortly after.
His move to Kayseri was deemed a surprise given his successful stint in charge of Croatian giants Dinamo Zagreb, which saw him claim the league and cup double last season, as well as overseeing a number of competitive displays in Europe.
In his 60 matches with Dinamo, he won 41 games, lost 10 and drew nine of those. He also counts the likes of Maribor, Sesvete and Gorica as his former clubs, but has not managed in England previously.
During his spell with Zrinjski Mostar, his side caught the eye and became the first side from Bosnia and Herzegovina to reach the group stages of a European club competition.
Jakirovic penned a one-and-a-half year deal in Turkey, but could now become the next man appointed by Acun Ilicali at City with talks said to be at advanced stage and quickly nearing a conclusion.
The 48-year-old, who has joint citizenship with Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia, enjoyed a 20-year playing career across Europe as a defender capable of playing in midfield, and emerged as Ilicali’s number one choice early on in his process of appointing a replacement for Ruben Selles.
Selles was sacked just under two weeks after guiding City to Championship safety on the final day of the season with a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth. Ilicali is hopeful of concluding a deal to bring the Bosnian to the MKM Stadium as soon as possible, with compensation due to the Turkish club.