The deadline day signing has caught the eye in his opening two encounters
Amir Hadziahmetovic says Sergej Jakirovic’s desire to bring him to Hull City was crucial in his decision to leave Besiktas and come to England for the season.
Jakirovic made a big play to sign the experienced 28-year-old on loan for the season, and while it took longer than planned owing to the club’s transfer restrictions, it was eventually completed on deadline day when Abu Kamara’s move to Getafe was finally rubber-stamped.
Hadziahmetovic made his home debut against Southampton on Saturday, coming on the back of his Championship bow at Swansea City last week, and says he’s settling into life in East Yorkshire well having swapped the bustling, chaotic streets of Istanbul for a more calmer Hull.
“I’m here two weeks already, so I’ve settled in really, really good,” he told Hull Live. “I already knew two or three of the players. I knew Enis Destan, I knew (David) Akintola, and I knew (John) Lundstram from the Turkish league. They’re all really good, really good guys, and I think I settled in really well and really fast.”
The 30-cap Bosnian international had been prepared to make his debut at Bristol City, but after delays in Kamara’s move to La Liga, he had to wait for his chance, leaving him to jet back to Turkey to collect more personal belongings.
“It was just a lot of travelling. This is football; the transfer period is like this. We have to be ready for it, so I was ready for it,” he continued. “I knew if I wasn’t gonna play in this Bristol game, I’m gonna play the next game, and it wasn’t a big problem for me.”
Desperate to bolster his engine room ranks, Jakirovic was keen to sign the 28-year-old, and it was that desire which impressed Hadziahmetovic.
“First of all, I see it as a big challenge, also the coach, he really wanted me, so that was maybe the biggest trigger for me to come here,” he said of Jakirovic. “I think the most important thing for football players is that the coaches want you, and like you, so this was the biggest thing and like for maybe three or four weeks we were in contact all the time, and finally it happened.
“He has the authority, but he’s a very good guy and I’m really, really happy to be working with him. You can feel his presence, sometimes even on the pitch; he’s not so active, but he has this authority. He’s looking at every little detail, and I think he’s a really, really good coach, what I’ve seen till now.”
Listen to our full interview with City’s deadline day signing right here
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