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First words from newly appointed Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic

We take a look at the first words from newly appointed Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic, who was announced on Wednesday morning.

The Tigers finished 21st in the Championship last season, with 49 points, the same amount as relegated Luton, Hull survived through having a better goal difference.

They have since waved goodbye to Ruben Selles and appointed Sergej Jakirović, 48, on a two-year deal with an optional third year, after a settlement with Kayserispor.

Known for his attacking play style, Jakirović averages 1.84 goals per game and has a 58.9% win rate across 292 matches in four countries.

He led Kayserispor from the relegation zone to a 13th-place finish in the Turkish Süper Lig in 2023. His backroom staff, including Marko Salatović, Marin Ivančić, and Andjelo Roguljic, join him alongside Andy Dawson and Erbil Bozkurt.

HULL CITY STATEMENT:

Hull City are delighted to announce the appointment of Sergej Jakirović as the club’s new head coach.

The 48-year-old has signed a two-year deal at the MKM Stadium, with a club option of a further year, and will join the Tigers after the club agreed a settlement with Kayserispor.

The Bosnian, known for implementing an exciting and attacking philosophy, averages 1.84 goals per game whilst boasting an impressive win ratio of 58.9% from 292 matches managed across four countries.

Marko Salatović, Marin Ivančić and Andjelo Roguljic are to also make the move from the Turkish Süper Lig outfit, strengthening Jakirović’s backroom team alongside Andy Dawson and Erbil Bozkurt.

Commenting on the appointment, Chairman Acun Ilıcalı said: “After a thorough and extensive recruitment process alongside Mustafa Yokes, Jared Dublin and Martin Hodge, we are delighted to secure the services of Sergej.

“We believe in the football that he will bring to the MKM Stadium for us and importantly, he has proven himself to be a winner throughout his career.

“My dream for our club has never changed from the first day I took over, and I believe in Sergej as we look forward to the 2025/26 Sky Bet Championship campaign together as one family.”

Appointed Kayserispor manager in January 2025, the club sat five points adrift in the Turkish Süper Lig relegation zone. Jakirović overturned the deficit as he recorded 29 points in 17 games, comfortably guiding the Kayseri-based club to safety, finishing 13th.

A former Bosnian international midfielder, the 48-year-old won two major honours as a player, winning the 2005/06 Bulgarian Cup and 2006/07 Bulgarian Super Cup with CSKA Sofia, during a playing career that took him to Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria and Bulgaria.

Starting his managerial career at Sesvete in the Croatian Second Tier in June 2017, 18 wins in 36 games saw the Bosnian progress to Croatian First Division outfit Gorica before later joining Slovenian PrvaLiga side Maribor.

Breaking a league record of 13 consecutive wins to secure the 2021/22 Bosnian Premier League title with Zrinjski Mostar, his first piece of silverware as a manager, the 48-year-old would later guide Croatian side Rijeka to UEFA Europa Conference League qualification after just half a season in charge, winning 10 of 19 games to secure a fourth placed finish.

The 2023/24 campaign would see Jakirović guide Dinamo Zagreb to their 13th and most recent league and cup double, winning their seventh successive Croatian League title and 17th Croatian Football Cup.

@KayserisporFK tweeted the night before Hull’s announcement: “We have parted ways with Sergej Jakirović by mutual consent. We thank him and his team and wish them success in their future careers.”

The morning after, just before Hull’s announcement, Jakirović posted via Instagram: “Dear Kayseri family,

“I want to speak to you from the heart and share a few thoughts that mean a lot to me. When I arrived in this city, you welcomed me with open arms, full of faith and hope that together we could accomplish the mission and keep the club in the top tier of Turkish football.

“Today, almost five months later, we can all proudly say that we succeeded in that mission. It wasn’t easy, but not for a moment did we give up – we gave everything we had, with all our heart, all our strength, and with the full knowledge of our coaching staff and players.

“I want to thank everyone in the club’s staff and management, because you stood by us through every training session, every sacrifice, and every battle on the pitch. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this club and to contribute to its rich history. Our players, too – with their warrior spirit and work ethic every coach dreams of – made everything we had to do that much easier.

“A special thanks also goes to our fans. You have been an incredible support throughout this journey. So many messages I never even had the chance to respond to, so many emotional banners and chants at our stadium – all of them showed me that this club was the right choice. With every new match, more and more of us filled the stands, which clearly shows we achieved something meaningful.

“In the end, on behalf of my entire coaching staff and in my own name, I wish you all the best in the time ahead. I truly believe that Kayseri will continue to deliver good results.

“My football journey will now continue elsewhere. That’s the life of a coach – you never know where tomorrow might take you. But what matters most is that Kayseri remains a beautiful memory and a special chapter in my life, one we will all proudly look back on for the rest of our lives.

“Your “hocam,” Sergej. 💛❤️”

Here’s how fans reacted amid the first words from newly appointed Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic…

@owen150x: Back him as early as we can, give him who he wants. Up the promotion tigers

@ThatjamieT: Hopefully can teach our players to actually put in some decent tackles, Balkan style.

@luke_henryy: Let’s get behind him. 💪

@AlbertBrigham4: I have a good feeling about this one, UTT 👊

@OllieHarsley: Now that it’s officially announced, let’s fully back him and see what he may be capable of doing without writing him off because he’s another foreign manager. I absolutely get the scepticism and worry, but that’ll hopefully be sorted out by positive results 👍⚽️🇧🇦 #hcafc

@MattyBonewell: Fully back him until he gives us a reason not too, up the tigers 🐯 #hcafc

@Uzzell01: I welcome him to the club and hope he has a long and successful time here. And more importantly, I hope he is finally what Acun is looking for 🙏

@Leemond123:
He’ll bring the glory days again
We’ll back him at the MKM
He’ll turn the lads arooooooound
Serg Jakirovic 🎵

@nshp91: Now let’s back him and get some signings in! #hcafc

@niallmcglone: Huge gamble from Acun again. Let’s see if it works out this time. #hcafc

@Mitchinson88: He has a managerial career win % in line with Mourinho’s PL win % which tells me he’s a winner. If he can keep that anywhere near the 59% he’s had throughout his near 300 games, we will be in a good place. I just hope he knows enough about the championship. #hcafc

@Mitchinson88: Time to focus. Full pre season and transfer window to bring a squad together that’s competing in the top half. Get rid of all the deadwood and bring some excitement back to games at the MKM. #hcafc

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