14.01.2026 14:20
Hull City managed to stay in the league by goal difference in the final week of last season and has rejoined the Premier League race with the managerial and squad changes made in 7 months. Under the management of Acun Ilıcalı, the team underwent a revision, maintaining its position in the upper ranks with a squad built on a limited budget, and clarified its goal as "Premier League" before the busy schedule.
Hull City, 7 months ago on the brink of relegation nightmare, is now talking about its Premier League ambitions again. Acun Ilıcalı's team, which narrowly avoided relegation on goal difference in the last week of last season, has managed to hold on to the upper ranks this season with significant changes and precise moves.
RELEGATION NIGHTMARE AVOIDED BY A NARROW MARGIN
Entering the last week of the Championship in 22nd place, Hull City left the stressful match against Portsmouth with 1 point. Unable to maintain the score advantage, Hull listened for news from other matches to stay in the league. With Luton Town losing 5-3 away to West Bromwich, Hull City stayed in the league by surpassing its rival on goal difference, having equalized at 49 points.
ACUN ILICALI TOOK CONTROL
After changes in management, the club's owner and president Acun Ilıcalı personally took charge of all planning for the summer of 2025. A comprehensive restructuring process was initiated to completely renew the squad, establish the right coaching staff, and refocus on higher goals.
A NEW CHAPTER WITH JAKIROVIC'S APPOINTMENT
Sergej Jakirovic was appointed as the head coach. The average points he achieved with his previous teams and the results he obtained with Kayserispor in Turkey were decisive in Hull City's choice. With this move, the club aimed to reflect a more organized and competitive structure on the field.
MAJOR CLEANUP IN THE SQUAD
With the new era, a serious revision was made in the team. Some players were sold with transfer fees, while those who were not productive were also parted ways. This process emerged as a critical step that reduced the wage burden and created space for new transfers.
PRECISION TRANSFERS WITH A LIMITED BUDGET
As the club could not reach a significant spending power with the income from sales, it turned to free and low-cost transfers. The forward line was strengthened with experience from Oli McBurnie and youthful dynamism from Joe Gelhardt, while the midfield and defense were reinforced with players familiar with the Championship. The addition of Hadziahmetovic from Beşiktaş for a loan fee of 700,000 euros stood out as the only direct transfer fee expenditure in this process. The transfer of John Lundstram from Trabzonspor was also highlighted as one of the moves that increased the squad's experience.
SEASON'S TURNING POINT: 14 POINTS FROM 6 CHALLENGING MATCHES
Although Hull City started the season inconsistently, it responded significantly during the critical period. The team, which earned 14 points from a challenging 6-match stretch, re-entered the race for the upper ranks and kept its Premier League dream alive.
SCHEDULE "LIKE A METROBÜS": 4 MATCHES IN 11 DAYS
The Championship tempo is felt again this season. Hull City will play 4 matches in 11 days between January 20 and January 31, and will go away 3 times during this period. The results the team will achieve from this intense schedule are expected to be decisive for the season's goals.
PREMIER LEAGUE DREAM BACK ON THE TABLE
It is emphasized that Hull City, which is stated to be in 7th place with a game in hand and on goal difference, is only 5 points away from the top two places that directly mean Premier League. While the morale of the fans is rising, the club's decision to set its goal back to the Premier League is noteworthy.