Who is Hull City’s new incoming manager Sergej Jakirovic? His Champions League experience and turnaround at Kayserispor

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Hull City’s hopes of a better Championship season for 2025/26 start with the appointment of a new manager.

Sergej Jakirovic is heavily linked with the vacancy, with reports suggesting an agreement in principle.

The Bosnian is currently managing Turkish side Kayserispor, where he took over mid-season and significantly improved their league position.

While details of his potential move are still emerging, Hull City owner Acun Ilicali is ‘keen’ to secure Sergej Jakirovic’s services as the replacement for the recently sacked Ruben Selles.

But who is Jakirovic? Let’s delve into his career to understand what he might bring to the MKM Stadium.

What teams has Sergej Jakirovic managed?

Jakirovic’s managerial career has seen him take charge of several clubs across various European leagues. His journey began in his native Croatia, where he managed Sesvete and Gorica, gaining early experience in the Croatian football landscape.

His career then progressed to Slovenia, where he took the helm at Maribor, a club with a strong tradition in Slovenian football. After that, Jakirovic moved to Bosnia and Herzegovina to manage Zrinjski Mostar.

Returning to Croatia, he managed Rijeka, another prominent club in the Croatian league, before taking on one of the most significant roles of his career at Dinamo Zagreb.

Most recently, before being heavily linked with Hull City, Jakirovic was managing Kayserispor in the Turkish Super Lig.

What is Sergej Jakirovic’s playing style?

Let’s not forget that Hull City were close to being relegated to League One this season, but just managed to hold on to their Championship position. 

And Jakirovic’s reported playing style could be just what the Tigers need. A strong defence would address the vulnerability that contributed to their struggles. The emphasis on physical intensity could equip Hull to better compete in the often-attritional Championship battles, potentially making them harder to beat.

Furthermore, a focus on counter-attacks could be a shrewd tactic for a team that might not always dominate possession, allowing them to effectively punish opponents for making mistakes.

If implemented well, it could provide Hull with a reliable way to secure crucial points as they aim to avoid another relegation scrap and potentially climb the table in the 2025/26 season.

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What trophies has Sergej Jakirovic won?

Jakirovic has won the following trophies as a manager:

• Bosnian Premier League: 2021-22 (with Zrinjski Mostar)
• Croatian Football League : 2023-24 (with Dinamo Zagreb)
• Croatian Cup: 2023-24 (with Dinamo Zagreb)

What was Sergej Jakirovic’s impact at Kayserispor?

Jakirovic took over Kayserispor in January 2025 when the club was third-bottom in the Turkish Super Lig and in danger of relegation.

By the end of this year’s season, he performed a huge turnaround, guiding them to 12th place, comfortably eight points clear of the relegation zone. This displays his talent for quickly putting his ideas in place and turning around the fortunes of a struggling team, something from which Hull City could need.

The Tigers narrowly avoided relegation themselves from the Championship in the 2024/25 season, finishing in 21st place.

Jakirovic’s track record of taking a team in a precarious position and leading them to safety suggests he has the tactical knowledge and skills to address Hull’s struggles.

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Sergej Jakirovic’s playing career

Jakirovic enjoyed a 20-year playing career across Europe. The defender represented numerous clubs in his native Croatia, including Neretva, RNK Split, Istra, Kamen Ingrad, NK Zagreb, Rijeka, Lučko, Sesvete, Dugo Selo, and Matija Gubec.

He also had spells abroad, playing for Spartak Trnava in Slovakia, Korotan Prevalje in Slovenia, CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria, and Austria Kärnten and Spittal/Drau in Austria. Jakirovic also earned five caps for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team between 2005 and 2006. He retired from playing in 2015, shortly after a spell with Dugo Selo.

What will Sergej Jakirovic’s salary be at Hull?

According to Turkish news agency DHA, who say the Bosnian will receive a salary of £2m per year at the Tigers although the length of his contract was not mentioned in the report.

• READ MORE: EFL expert gives honest verdict on Hull City decision over Ruben Selles as ‘disaster’ looms

Sergej Jakirovic’s Champions League experience

Jakirovic’s most notable run in the Champions League came during the 2024/25 season when he was the manager of Dinamo Zagreb.

He successfully guided Dinamo Zagreb through the qualifying rounds to reach the group stage of the competition.

However, Dinamo Zagreb’s time in the group stage itself was short and difficult. They were drawn into a group with Bayern Munich. In their opening group match, they suffered a heavy 9-2 defeat against Bayern Munich.

This result was the heaviest defeat in Dinamo Zagreb’s history and the first time a team had conceded nine goals in a single Champions League group stage match.

Just two days after this match, on September 19, 2024, Sergej Jakirovic was sacked by Dinamo Zagreb.