Lampposts are adorned with the simple but telling declaration in amber that ‘We are Premier League.’ There are flags in windows with messages such as ‘Dare to Dream.’ Sergej Jakirovic made it happen. "I am very proud of this achievement and the people are proud," he tells Sky Sports. "It is not easy to get promotion and play in the Premier League.
We see how difficult it is. There will be ups and downs, this is normal. But we showed already that we can compete." Spend any time at all with the 49-year-old Jakirovic, an imposing but engaging figure, and it is easy to appreciate his ability to inspire and to galvanise.
He is speaking to Sky Sports in the aftermath of losing to Fulham but he exudes confidence, calm and steely defiance. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player "One defeat and now we will surrender here? It is about trying to improve." Hull have certainly done that on his watch.
They go into the weekend in the top half of the Premier League table, already building on that unlikely Wembley win in May. It was Hull's fourth promotion to the Premier League, but the previous one had come a decade ago and the club have been down to League One and back since then. In its own way, it was the most unexpected given that Hull finished down in 21st the year before.
Jakirovic arrived with an esoteric reputation, forged by winning the title in Bosnia with Zrinjski Mostar and a double in Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb. But it is the job that he did when in Turkey with Kayserispor in 2025 that feels the most relevant experience now. He took over with that team in the bottom three in January but produced top-four form from then until the end of the season to lift the struggling side out of the bottom six.
In other words, Jakirovic has demonstrated that he can win titles and keep his teams up. "I do not know too many coaches who start like I do in the academy and then, step by step, come here. It is a big privilege and I am very proud of this journey.
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