National 3 - Group M · Defender · #86 · Croatia · 17 yrs
As recently as last year Hull avoided relegation to League One only on goal difference. Fast-forward 16 months and they are now going toe to toe with the big names of the Premier League. The turnaround can be traced back to the arrival of Sergej Jakirovic before last season.
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic says defender Charlie Hughes is "far away" from a return from injury and has "no hope" of making the first game of the Premier League season against Manchester United. Hughes underwent a hernia operation after last season's Wembley success and complained of discomfort when he returned to first-team training this summer. "Every player, especially from last season who was a main player in our road to Wembley, to the Premier League, has a big role for us."
Hull City boss Sergej Jakirovic said last week the Tigers were close to completing a deal for Olympiakos goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis. In light of this, BBC Radio Humberside's James Hoggarth spoke to Greek football journalist Konstantinos Lianos to find out more about Tzolakis. Every time a Championship club returns to the Premier League, they're automatically dubbed the favourites for relegation.
Hull City have been linked to several players from the Croatian league so far this summer, and Croatian journalist Ivan Rencic has given an insight into which players would be best suited for the Premier League. Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic has experience managing in the Croatian league and it appears as though he wants to use this expertise to reinforce his squad in the transfer window.
For all the rigmarole over interns spying at golf courses and which team would be allowed to play here, a third party who watched on helplessly from afar will now be in the Premier League football next season. The Hull head coach, Sergej Jakirovic, had described his side as “collateral damage” in the Spygate saga that had provided the most extraordinary precursor to this Championship playoff final, forcing him to prepare for the £200m match by analysing the wrong team for more than a week. Best laid plans and all that.Southampton’s expulsion prompted a late switch to tackling a Middlesbrough puzzle, but the Bosnian delivered a tactical masterstroke culminating in Oli McBurnie’s 95th-minute goal, which sent them back into the top flight for the first time in nine years. Continue reading...
Hull City will square off Middlesbrough for the decisive promotion playoff clash of the 2025/26 EFL Championship campaign. Here’s all the essential information on this matchup, including the date, kickoff time and viewing options. Here are all of the details of where you can watch Hull City vs Middlesbrough on US television and via legal streaming: WHO Hull City vs Middlesbrough WHAT EFL Championship WHEN 10:30am ET / 7:30am PT • Saturday, May 23, 2025 WHERE Paramount+ STREAM WATCH NOW Match Overview Hull City‘s improbable journey to Wembley represents the culmination of a season where they consistently defied the odds. Finishing sixth in the Championship, Sergej Jakirović’s squad has battled through a transfer embargo and unfavorable defensive metrics to stand just one win away from the Premier League. Their gritty semi-final victory over Millwall showcased their resilience, and they enter this final as underdogs with a point to prove. Middlesbrough arrives at the final under extraordinary circumstances. After being eliminated by Southampton, a stunning off-field scandal saw them reinstated, granting them an unexpected shot at glory. As the favorites, Boro has the pressure to capitalize on this second chance and end their nine-year absence from the top flight. With a place in the Premier League on the line, the stakes could not be higher in what is often called the richest game in soccer. Tactical Analysis & Match Context The season trajectories of these two clubs could not be more different. Hull transformed from a team that narrowly avoided relegation into a promotion contender under the masterful guidance of Sergej Jakirović, who built a competitive squad using only loans and free agents. In contrast, Middlesbrough maintained their status as a promotion favorite, with new manager Kim Hellberg implementing a dominant, possession-based style that saw them finish seven points clear of Hull. The tactical battle will be a classic clash of styles. Middlesbrough is expected to control the game, leveraging their league-best possession statistics (over 59%) and high volume of shots to break down Hull‘s defense. Hull, meanwhile, will likely adopt the same counter-attacking strategy that has served them so well. They will look to absorb pressure and hit on the break, relying on the clinical finishing of top scorer Oli McBurnie to make the difference. For both teams, the motivation is simple: secure a lucrative spot in the Premier League. For Middlesbrough, this is a golden opportunity to right the wrongs of their semi-final defeat and prove they belong in the top tier. For Hull, it is a chance to complete a fairytale season and maintain their perfect 100% success rate in Championship play-off finals, having previously earned promotion this way in 2008 and 2016. Head-to-Head Record & Historic Trends Historically, Middlesbrough has held the upper hand in this fixture. Over the last five encounters, Boro has secured three victories, with Hull winning just once and one match ending in a draw. This record gives Middlesbrough a clear psychological edge heading into the final. However, the results from the current season tell a more balanced story. While Middlesbrough claimed a dominant 4-1 victory at Hull’s home ground, the Tigers responded with a hard-fought 1-0 win in the reverse fixture at the Riverside Stadium in December 2025. This proves that Hull is more than capable of upsetting their favored opponents on any given day. The recent history between these sides suggests goals are likely. The last five meetings have produced an average of 3.0 goals per game, with both teams finding the net in three of those contests. Middlesbrough‘s attack has been particularly potent, scoring three or more goals against Hull twice during that span, highlighting their offensive firepower. Squad News & Projected Lineups Middlesbrough enters this crucial final with a massive advantage, boasting a fully fit and rested squad, while Hull must navigate the c
Saints’ self-destruction has left Kim Hellberg and Sergej Jakirovic tantalisingly close to fulfilling their dream in Saturday’s Wembley tripWhen the television cameras zoomed in for a closeup it became clear Hayden Hackney was crying.Middlesbrough’s best player had just watched his teammates lose the second leg of the Championship playoff semi-final 2-1 in extra time at Southampton. As he left his seat behind the away dugout and wandered across the pitch, the Redcar-born midfield playmaker looked utterly heartbroken. Continue reading...
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