Jakirovic has penned a well deserved new contract with the Tigers
Sergej Jakirovic has penned a new deal with Hull City(Image: Hull City)
After a remarkable first year in charge of the club, Hull City have tied down Sergej Jakirovic to a new long-term deal.
The head coach has penned a new two-year deal with the Tigers, committing his long term future to the club he has taken from Championship strugglers to the Premier League.
As he comically pointed out from the balcony of Hull City Hall while celebrating promotion, Jakirovic was hired to keep City in the Championship last summer. The Bosnian had a tough start to life in East Yorkshire and won just one of his first five games with the club.
However, things clicked for him through September and the Tigers approached the winter period with a head of steam.
Belief grew that Jakirovic could lead City to the unthinkable as the season wore on, and once the club had booked their spot in the play-offs, they would not be denied.
The odds were stacked against them, but Jakirovic produced a tactical masterclass to beat Millwall over two legs and despite all the Spygate disruption, City got the job done at Wembley.
Fast forward three months and Jakirovic has City sitting third in the Premier League table after beating Manchester United and Coventry City in the club’s first two league games.
Ultimately, then, Jakirovic is one of the most popular managers in the country right now and City have ensured he will be theirs for another two years at least, with the club having the option to extend his deal by another season.
“I have felt the support from the club and our fans from the minute I arrived, so I am delighted that this journey will continue,” Jakirovic said upon signing his deal. “Hull feels like my home and I’m excited for this journey to continue.
“Promotion to the Premier League is a dream come true. You have to believe in your work and we have a special group here who are sticking together as a family. We have shown in our first games of the season that we can compete at this level and be dangerous.
“We will, of course, continue to work hard and perform in a way that makes our supporters proud.”
Club chairman Acun Ilıcalı said: “From the first day we met, it was clear that we had a special relationship. Everyone at the club believes that Sergej is a high-quality coach and it is a big privilege to have him here.
“He is the perfect coach for our vision and, having experienced last season together, we created some amazing moments at Wembley. I thank him for that.
“We are happy that Sergej is happy here. This is a special day for us, and we look forward to our journey continuing together in the Premier League.”
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