Hull City reach Premier League after Tigers pounce on their promotion chance

Even the most dedicated Hull City supporter could not have imagined such a conclusion to their season.

Oli McBurnie's crucial last-minute goal against Middlesbrough enabled the Tigers, who finished 21st in the Championship last year, to gain promotion to the Premier League for the upcoming season.

The East Yorkshire club has defied significant obstacles, including a transfer embargo and upheaval off the pitch concerning Southampton and Spygate, to achieve this remarkable feat.

In celebration of their success, the players are set to travel to Las Vegas, courtesy of club owner Acun Ilicali, who promised them the trip.

However, head coach Sergej Jakirovic will forego the Las Vegas excursion as he opts for a quieter respite ahead of the forthcoming challenges in the Premier League.

"This trip is for the players. I will be with my family in Croatia. We have a beautiful coast there," Jakirovic stated.

"They're going to Vegas. As they say, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. It's not for me."

Charismatic Jakirovic rebuilds reputation as dream becomes reality

Jakirovic mentioned before the final that his team felt like "collateral damage" following Southampton's elimination from the play-offs, which forced Hull to quickly shift their focus from preparing for a match against Southampton to strategizing against Middlesbrough just four days prior to the final.

Despite entering the match as underdogs, much like their semi-final against third-placed Millwall, Hull managed to secure victory on a sweltering day at Wembley.

This promotion caps a remarkable first season in English football for Hull's manager, a former Bosnia international.

Before arriving in England, Jakirovic had celebrated title victories in Bosnia and Croatia, coupled with a brief tenure in Turkey towards the end of last season. His early UK recognition was primarily linked to his role at Dinamo Zagreb, where the team suffered a heavy 9-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League during the 2024-25 season, which led to his dismissal shortly thereafter.

If his goal was to make an impression in England, he has certainly achieved it.

"When Oli scored, I thought 'I am dreaming and this is a movie'," Jakirovic reflected.

"I'm very emotional. Many players were in tears from happiness.

"It's been an incredible journey. I don't think we fully grasped what we achieved today, considering all the challenges we faced.

"I'm immensely proud of everyone, especially the players; they are the true heroes here."

Hull received a transfer embargo during the summer, limiting their acquisitions to free transfers and loans due to late payment issues with other clubs.

Despite these constraints, Jakirovic managed to keep the team in contention for promotion throughout the season and guided them to a play-off victory over Millwall, who finished ten points ahead of them in the standings.

The 49-year-old is an authoritative figure, yet his players have thrived under his relaxed demeanor.

In the post-match press conference, he humorously remarked that Southampton might have observed his team's training sessions but emphasized that it was not a concern as "sometimes we are not that impressive".

'I thought "What have I joined?"'

Last season, Hull narrowly avoided relegation to the third tier on the final day, drawing 1-1 against Portsmouth.

Shortly thereafter, head of recruitment Martin Hodge was appointed and expressed that, while watching the match from the stands that day, he questioned if the role was the right fit for him. Ultimately, the situation turned out favorably.

"We assembled a squad with the sole intention of escaping this league. The players have been incredible, and the manager has been a breath of fresh air," Hodge conveyed to BBC Radio Humberside.

"This marks my 52nd year in football, having traveled globally with Wales and worked with prestigious clubs. However, this is my most significant achievement.

"As I sat in Portsmouth last year, I thought 'What have I joined?'

"To see the progress made in a single year, the true credit and success belong to those players, the management, and our staff."

Hodge, responsible for bringing in seasoned Championship players like defender John Egan and match-winner McBurnie, will also now enjoy a larger budget for the upcoming season.

Before the play-off final, Ilicali made headlines by stating that he would contemplate legal action if reinstated Middlesbrough defeated his team.

The consequences of Spygate are likely to linger, but such measures are no longer necessary.

"This is the best day of my life, without a doubt. Throughout my career, I have managed numerous successes from scratch. But football is unpredictable," Ilicali shared with Sky Sports.

"We endured a long wait in stoppage time. In those last five minutes, I was unable to move because I could not bear to witness a last-minute goal against us."

While the focus will eventually shift to preparations for the Premier League, for now, whether in Las Vegas, Croatia, Turkey, or East Yorkshire, all those connected with Hull can revel in this extraordinary achievement.