City claimed their highest league finish in a decade this season
Hull City owner Acun Ilicali celebrates the win over Norwich City(Image: Greig Cowie/Shutterstock)
Acun Ilicali’s ownership of Hull City has been a five-year period littered with drama, but after years of trying and missing out, he’s finally found the magic formula.
By hook or by crook, the City owner landed on Sergej Jakirovic, and it’s proved to be nothing short of a masterstroke with the Croatian guiding the Tigers into the Championship’s top six in his first campaign in English football.
This club were written off at the outset, tipped to be relegation fodder before a ball was kicked, and even throughout the campaign as they notched up win after win against the fancied teams, the Tigers were still cast to one side and perhaps were not afforded the credit they deserved.
City have not yet won promotion, and that is now the ultimate aim; however, to have finished sixth against the backdrop of everything is a significant achievement and irrespective of what the outcome of play-offs turns out to be, this is a campaign that will live long in the memory, summed up beautifully by the drama of that final day.
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Guiding the Tigers to a sixth-placed finish in English football’s second tier shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s the 15th-highest finish in the club’s history, and comfortably the best under Ilicali’s tenure. It’s the first time since Steve Bruce guided the club to promotion in the play-off final against Sheffield Wednesday.
Of course, Jakirovic is certainly anything but a rookie boss, having had terrific spells in Bosnia, Croatia and Turkey, but the perils of managing a club in the Championship are well-known, especially when you throw into the mix the difficulties he inherited, which makes the job he’s done even more impressive.
Should he go and guide the club back into the Premier League, then I should think there will be talk of a statue outside the MKM Stadium for the ex-Dinamo Zagreb boss.
After Grant McCann was dismissed shortly after Ilicali’s takeover in January 2022, Shota Arveladze, Liam Rosenior, Tim Walter and Ruben Selles have all come and gone, with Jakirovic the only one capable of guiding City into the play-offs.
All Ilicali’s previous managers were given money to spend, but unlike his forefathers, Jakirovic hasn’t spent a single penny when it comes to transfer or loan fees under the terms of their restrictions. While he may have benefited from the likes of Liam Millar and Mo Belloumi returning from injury, as well as being able to call upon Ryan Giles, Charlie Hughes and Kyle Joseph, all of whom cost money previously, he’s been able to get the best out of his entire squad even with the amount of injuries he’s had to cope with.
Rosenior’s seventh-placed finish was the best Ilicali had enjoyed before Jakirovic came along, and it proves his decision to pluck the 49-year-old from Kayserispor was inspired, and has proved to be his best since buying the club from the Allam family in 2022.
This season could yet end in a sensational promotion, but ahead of the two-legged semi-final against Millwall, the work done should be heralded and applauded.
City aren’t here to make up the numbers, and just be happy-clappers pleased to be in the play-offs. There’s an in-built desire to grasp this opportunity, and make the most of it. With the character and spirit in the dressing room, you certainly wouldn’t write them off.
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