Sergej Jakirovic interview: Hull Metropolis head coach on making folks proud and taking over the Premier League in their very own method | Soccer Information

No customer can escape the truth that Hull Metropolis are again. Lampposts are adorned with the straightforward however telling declaration in amber that ‘We’re Premier League.’ There are flags in home windows with messages similar to ‘Dare to Dream.’ Sergej Jakirovic made it occur.

“I’m very pleased with this achievement and the individuals are proud,” he tells Sky Sports activities. “It’s not simple to get promotion and play within the Premier League. We see how troublesome it’s. There can be ups and downs, that is regular. However we confirmed already that we are able to compete.”

Spend any time in any respect with the 49-year-old Jakirovic, an imposing however partaking determine, and it’s simple to understand his potential to encourage and to galvanise. He’s talking to Sky Sports activities within the aftermath of shedding to Fulham however he exudes confidence, calm and steely defiance.

“One defeat and now we’ll give up right here? We are going to surrender? No. It’s about making an attempt to enhance.” Hull have definitely achieved that on his watch. They go into the weekend within the prime half of the Premier League desk, already constructing on that unlikely Wembley win in Might.

It was Hull’s fourth promotion to the Premier League, however the earlier one had come a decade in the past and the membership have been all the way down to League One and again since then. In its personal method, it was probably the most sudden on condition that Hull completed down in twenty first the 12 months earlier than.

Jakirovic arrived with an esoteric status, cast by profitable the title in Bosnia with Zrinjski Mostar and a double in Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb. However it’s the job that he did when in Turkey with Kayserispor in 2025 that feels probably the most related expertise now.

He took over with that group within the backside three in January however produced top-four type from then till the tip of the season to elevate the struggling facet out of the underside six. In different phrases, Jakirovic has demonstrated that he can win titles and maintain his groups up.

“I have no idea too many coaches who begin like I do within the academy after which, step-by-step, come right here. It’s a massive privilege and I’m very pleased with this journey. It’s not simple to get the possibility right here, particularly from my nation. However it’s a must to use your alternative.”

And use that underdog spirit that meshes so properly in a metropolis like Hull, maybe? “In my nature, I’m a fighter and I’ll by no means give up. Irrespective of who’s the opponent, we can have our possibilities. We simply need to combat, to stay collectively, to stay to the tactical plan.”

Hull’s techniques have confounded quite a lot of groups already this season, beginning with that seismic 2-0 win over Manchester United on the opening weekend. They received at Coventry too and have since drawn video games towards Aston Villa, Chelsea and Everton.

“We determined to play one system that brings us stability.” That 5-4-1 formation out of possession is designed to make them arduous to interrupt down however the plan is to counter-attack rapidly. No group within the Premier League is shifting the ball faster up the pitch.

It’s not only a low block. Hull do harry and press. And people counter-attacks require ambition. “We play a lot braver with the ball, braveness, good actions.” The possession numbers aren’t excessive however that isn’t new. “We didn’t have this within the Championship.”

Jakirovic explains: “It’s all the time round 30 to 35 % which is totally regular for me as a result of I watch different video games and there are higher groups with extra expertise that even have that a lot possession. It’s not about possession, it’s what you do with it.”

As he factors out, “it’s about how one can create possibilities and make it troublesome for the opposition” however there may be nonetheless an expectation that the group will evolve. “We’ve got signed some gamers who superb, particularly on the ball. However they’ve had harm issues.”

There may be the instance of 31-year-old midfielder Hidemasa Morita, signed from Sporting. “Morita joined us in the course of July and it’s now October and he has had possibly 10 to 12 group periods to this point. Morita is an excellent participant however it’s about match health.”

It’s not simply him. Ilyas Ansah, a 6’4″ striker, was a significant signing from the Bundesliga however is but to get on the pitch. Robinio Vaz, on mortgage from Roma, made 4 substitute appearances within the Premier League however he’s now out. Matt Targett has a twisted ankle.

“We’ve got a backbone from final season,” Jakirovic explains. The purpose was to “add extra high quality gamers” and there’s a perception that they’ve achieved that. “Then accidents occur and you might be once more originally, so we’ll see.” Solely Tottenham Hotspur have extra gamers out.

“These new signings will add to the group,” says Jakirovic. We signed these gamers as a result of they’ve high quality. Some have massive potential, they’re very younger. Each coaching session is an expertise for them. It is a chance to develop. I’m making an attempt to construct this group.”

The harm record is simply one other headache for Jakirovic in a season that has already taken a weird flip, with the supervisor even having to handle the squad after two gamers managed to flip their automobiles on the slender highway main away from the membership’s coaching floor.

It serves to stress the all-encompassing position of the soccer supervisor. A tactician, they known as him the professor in Croatia. “We’ve got a variety of clips. Nearly each motion, you discover one thing. It’s about small particulars.” However this job calls for man-management too.

“It’s about motivation, it’s about psychology. That is my job. We do the whole lot to elevate the group.” However who lifts him? “I’m all the time constructive and optimistic. I like my job.” A survivor of the Balkan Wars as a young person, one can not assist however surprise if it offers perspective.

“Soccer is my life. However, on the finish of the day, it’s simply sport. It’s disappointing typically however we have now to take pleasure in each recreation as a result of it’s a particular privilege to play within the Premier League.” That stated, he didn’t take pleasure in what he noticed final day trip away to Fulham.

“It’s about the best way we misplaced this recreation. We didn’t present something. We didn’t also have a shot on the right track.” He’s demanding extra towards Brentford on Sunday. “It’s about operating, it’s about duels, being aggressive, passing, receiving, physique positions, higher selections.”

Sunday twenty fifth October 12:30pm


Kick off 2:00pm

He provides: “My group is giving the whole lot on the pitch as a result of whenever you take care of the sport on the GPS, it is vitally good when it comes to operating, high-intensity sprinting. They’re giving the whole lot however that is nonetheless soccer. We’ve got to play a lot better with the ball.”

If they’ll do this, it could be Jakirovic’s biggest feat but. He already has tattoos of his previous title wins on his shoulders. “These are superb recollections for me.” He claims that protecting Hull up wouldn’t fairly warrant a brand new one, they’re reserved for the trophies.

However staying within the Premier League could be some achievement. “We all know our goal.” Can they do it? They’ve the backing. “The followers are unimaginable.” They may simply have the supervisor too. Not that he feels the stress. “What’s stress? Like I stated, it’s simply sport.”

Watch Hull vs Brentford reside on Sky Sports activities Golf this Sunday from 12.30pm; kick-off 2pm