Under the guidance of Sergej Jakirovic, Hull City is mounting a strong challenge for promotion to the Premier League, defying initial expectations.

The appointment of Jakirovic was met with skepticism by some, with one fan expressing disappointment, saying, "This is another unusual decision by the chairman."

Another supporter questioned the choice, wondering why the club didn't opt for a candidate with a proven track record in the Championship.

A fan voiced frustration, stating, "I'm astonished that we're doing this again, hiring someone with no experience in English football."

When Hull City appointed Sergej Jakirovic as their head coach in June of the previous year, the decision was not well-received by a significant number of fans.

The team had narrowly avoided relegation to League One on goal difference the previous season, just a year after Liam Rosenior, now the Chelsea boss, was let go despite securing a seventh-place finish.

Many were surprised when Ruben Selles was fired, given that he had managed to keep the team in the Championship.

Nevertheless, Jakirovic and Hull City have exceeded expectations, currently sitting just five points behind the top two teams in the Championship.

As Jakirovic prepares to face Chelsea in the FA Cup fourth round, it's worth exploring how the 49-year-old former Bosnia international came to lead this unexpected promotion push in East Yorkshire.

According to BBC Radio Humberside's Hull City reporter Mike White, Jakirovic made a strong impression when he first arrived at the club, commanding attention with his presence.

Initially, it seemed that Jakirovic might be a challenging figure to deal with, but it soon became apparent that this was not the case.

As White noted, "It didn't take long to realize that first impressions can be misleading, and Jakirovic proved to be personable, intelligent, and passionate, with a good sense of humor."

White described Jakirovic as "forthright in his views," making him a pleasure to interact with.

However, it took some time for Jakirovic's positive impression to translate into results on the pitch, as the team made a mixed start to the season with two wins, three draws, and three losses in their first eight league matches.

A strong run of form in October and November propelled the team up the table, but it was a 4-1 defeat to Middlesbrough that ultimately laid the foundation for their promotion push.

The team's penalty shootout win over Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup third round was a notable highlight.

At one point, Hull City had conceded 34 goals in 19 games, the second-worst defensive record in the league.

Since then, the team has significantly improved, allowing just nine goals in their subsequent 12 games, with eight wins and six clean sheets during that period.

By the end of January, the team had surpassed their total points, wins, goals scored, and clean sheets from the entire 2024-25 season.

This season, the team is averaging 45% possession, down from 49% last season, and making 276 successful passes per game, a decrease of 70 from the previous season.

In contrast to the previous season under Tim Walter and Selles, when the team scored only two goals from fast breaks, they have already scored nine such goals this season.

Experienced striker Oli McBurnie, who has scored 12 goals in 22 league appearances, credits the manager and staff with creating a positive team environment.

McBurnie told BBC Radio Humberside, "It's not a dictatorship; the manager and staff trust us and are willing to listen to our opinions."

He added, "They understand English football and culture, and having Dean Holden on the staff has been beneficial."

McBurnie praised the manager and staff, saying, "They've been brilliant, and it's great to have them on board."

The upcoming FA Cup match against Chelsea is scheduled for Friday, 13 February, at 19:45 GMT.

The match will be broadcast on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and the BBC Sport website and app, with radio coverage on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Radio Humberside.

Mike White agrees that Jakirovic's success is built on solid foundations, thanks to the work of sporting director Jared Dublin and head of recruitment Martin Hodge.

However, White believes that Jakirovic deserves significant credit for the team's performance, particularly given the challenges posed by a lengthy injury list.

White noted, "The quality of recruitment has been remarkable, especially considering the two-window EFL transfer restriction, which only allowed for free signings and loans without fees."

The team has faced numerous injuries to key players, including Oli McBurnie, John Lundstram, Joe Gelhardt, and Mo Belloumi, but has continued to perform well despite these setbacks.

With Coventry's recent downturn in form, a return to the Premier League after nine years is still a realistic possibility for Hull City.

According to White, Jakirovic deserves a tremendous amount of credit for steering the team in the right direction.

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Former Hull City manager Liam Rosenior expressed his affection for the club, saying, "Hull will always have a special place in my heart."

Jakirovic was born in December 1976 in Mostar, which was then part of Yugoslavia, into a family with a strong football background.

His father, Enver, played as a goalkeeper for NK Neretva in modern-day Croatia, where Jakirovic began his own playing career.

Over the course of 20 years, Jakirovic played as a defensive midfielder in several countries, including Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Bulgaria, and Austria, earning five caps for Bosnia.

A third generation of the family is now involved in football, as Jakirovic gave his son Leon a professional debut at Dinamo Zagreb when Leon was just 16 in May 2024.

Leon has since moved to Italian super club Inter Milan, marking a new chapter in the family's football journey.

Dinamo Zagreb's tenure under Sergej Jakirovic came to a close in September 2024, following a 9-2 defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

Jakirovic began his coaching career in 2017, taking the reins at Croatian second-division club Sesvete, before moving to top-tier side Gorica the following year.

A stint with Slovenian champions Maribor preceded his successful spell at Bosnian outfit Zrinjski Mostar, where he led the team to a title win in the 2021-22 season.

Jakirovic returned to Croatia in November 2022 to manage Rijeka, but departed to take over at Dinamo Zagreb in August 2023, replacing Igor Biscan and guiding the team to a Croatian double that season.

The defeat to Bayern Munich, which saw Dinamo Zagreb become the first team to concede nine goals in a Champions League match, ultimately led to Jakirovic's departure in September 2024.

In January of the previous year, Jakirovic was appointed manager of Turkish club Kayserispor, where he successfully steered the team away from relegation danger before making the move to England.

According to owner Acun Ilicali, who spoke to BBC Radio Humberside in the summer, "Sergej's career is marked by success wherever he has gone."

Ilicali noted that Jakirovic's playing style at Kayserispor aligns with his vision for the team, stating "he played the kind of football I want to see."

Ilicali also highlighted Jakirovic's ability to implement a consistent playing style across his teams, saying "his career shows he has the talent to make all his teams play similar games."

Despite initial doubts, Jakirovic's appointment may prove to be a savvy decision.

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