Sergej Jakirovic has made a promising start to his time in charge of Hull City despite difficult circumstances
Sergej Jakirovic claims Acun Ilicali has told him he could stay at Hull City for a decade.
Jakirovic became the Tigers’ fourth manager since May 2024 when he took over from Ruben Selles in the summer.
He did so having had a nomadic coaching career that has seen him manage in Slovenia, Bosnia, Croatia, Turkey and now England in the last five years.
But speaking to The i Paper, the Tigers boss revealed he told Ilicali he wanted to put down roots at the MKM Stadium – and got the response he wanted.
“I would love to have a bit longer here,” he told i. “When I spoke to the owner I told him that everywhere I go I’m there for one or two years. But he told me, ‘Don’t worry, you will be here with me for 10 years!’ That would be nice.”
Jakirovic has had an eventful start to his time in England, finding out he would have to work within an EFL transfer embargo very early into his tenure.
In the end the Tigers managed to sign a dozen players and under Jakirovic they have shown signs they can have a positive season.
“This group, for me, is fantastic. They always work so hard,” he added.
“But for me they are too polite. I mean in the games. Sometimes in the game you need them to be b*******.
“It’s not anything to do with your personality, just that you want to win the game. I always take a risk. I went to Turkey [to manage Kayserispor] and the situation was very similar.
“[We had] a transfer embargo and only 14 players for the first training session but we stayed up. It was a challenge and I like a challenge.
“I don’t like to be in my comfort zone, when you get out of your comfort zone good things happen.
“It was a shock two days after I arrived to find out about the transfer embargo but at least we could bring in free players and loan players.”
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