Hull City’s manager is Sergej Jakirović, the Bosnian head coach who guided the Tigers back to the Premier League in his first season at the club.
Jakirović took charge of Hull City in June 2025 and quickly transformed a team that had narrowly avoided relegation from the Championship into a promotion-winning side.
Hull finished sixth in the 2025/26 EFL Championship before navigating the playoffs and defeating Middlesbrough at Wembley to secure a place in the 2026/27 Premier League.
Here is everything you need to know about Hull City manager Sergej Jakirović, including his career, previous clubs and how he led the Tigers back to England’s top flight.
Who Is the Hull City Manager?
Sergej Jakirović is the current manager and head coach of Hull City.
The Bosnian was appointed on June 11, 2025, ahead of the 2025/26 Championship season.
Jakirović replaced Rubén Sellés and arrived in England after previously managing clubs across Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Slovenia and Turkey.
His appointment proved successful almost immediately, with Hull earning promotion to the Premier League during his first season in charge.
How Did Sergej Jakirović Get Hull City Promoted?
Jakirović inherited a Hull City team that had narrowly avoided relegation from the Championship during the previous season.
The Tigers initially experienced an inconsistent start under their new manager, but their results improved as the 2025/26 campaign progressed.
Hull eventually finished sixth in the Championship, claiming the final playoff position.
The Tigers then faced Millwall in the playoff semifinals.
After a 0-0 draw in the first leg, Hull won 2-0 at The Den to advance to the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium.
Hull faced Middlesbrough in the final on May 23, 2026.
The match remained scoreless until stoppage time, when Oli McBurnie scored the winning goal to give Hull a dramatic 1-0 victory.
The result sent Hull City back to the Premier League after a nine-year absence.
When Did Sergej Jakirović Become Hull City Manager?
Sergej Jakirović became Hull City head coach on June 11, 2025.
The appointment represented Jakirović’s first managerial job in English football.
Before moving to Hull, he had spent approximately six months managing Turkish club Kayserispor, helping the team retain its Süper Lig status.
Hull then brought Jakirović to the MKM Stadium as the club prepared for another Championship campaign.
Instead, his first season ended with an unexpected promotion to the Premier League.
Where Did Sergej Jakirović Manage Before Hull City?
Jakirović built his managerial career primarily in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina before eventually moving to Turkey and England.
His previous managerial clubs include:
- Sesvete
- Gorica
- Maribor
- Zrinjski Mostar
- Rijeka
- Dinamo Zagreb
- Kayserispor
- Hull City
One of his biggest successes came with Zrinjski Mostar, where he won the Bosnian Premier League title during the 2021/22 season.
Jakirović later took charge of Croatian powerhouse Dinamo Zagreb in August 2023.
He guided Dinamo to a Croatian league and cup double in 2023/24, adding another major achievement to his managerial résumé.
After subsequently managing Kayserispor in Turkey, Jakirović moved to England to take charge of Hull.
Where Is Sergej Jakirović From?
Sergej Jakirović was born in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Before becoming a manager, Jakirović had a lengthy professional playing career spanning approximately 20 years.
He played in several European countries, including Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Austria.
Jakirović also represented Bosnia and Herzegovina internationally, earning five senior caps.
He retired from playing in 2017 before beginning his coaching career.
When Did Hull City Last Play in the Premier League?
Before Jakirović’s promotion-winning season, Hull City had not played in the Premier League since 2016/17.
The Tigers were relegated at the end of that campaign and spent the following nine seasons outside England’s top division.
Hull even dropped into League One before winning promotion back to the Championship in 2021.
Their 2026 playoff victory therefore completed a long journey back to the Premier League.
Hull joined Coventry City and Ipswich Town as the three clubs promoted from the Championship for the 2026/27 season.
Has Sergej Jakirović Managed in the Premier League Before?
No. The 2026/27 season is Sergej Jakirović’s first season managing in the Premier League.
His promotion with Hull means Jakirović is now testing himself against some of the most established managers and clubs in world football.
It also represents another major step in a managerial career that has already taken him through several European leagues.
Keeping Hull in the Premier League will now be Jakirović’s next major challenge.
Who Is Hull City’s Manager for the 2026/27 Premier League Season?
Sergej Jakirović is Hull City’s manager for the 2026/27 Premier League season.
After taking over in June 2025, the Bosnian needed just one season to guide Hull from Championship relegation survivors to Premier League promotion winners.
Hull’s dramatic playoff victory over Middlesbrough returned the Tigers to England’s top flight for the first time since 2017.
Jakirović now leads Hull City into their sixth Premier League season in club history, with the Tigers hoping to establish themselves once again among England’s top clubs.