Sergej Jakirovic has described guiding Hull City to the Championship play-off final as “maybe the best thing that has happened in football in my life,” adding that leading his team out at Wembley will be a dream come true.
The Tigers secured their place in the final with a 2-0 second-leg victory over Millwall at The Den on May 10, following a goalless first leg. Goals from Mohamed Belloumi and Joe Gelhardt sealed the win, setting up a clash with either Southampton or Middlesbrough on Saturday, May 23.
Reflecting on the achievement, Jakirovic told reporters after the match: “Since day one, this group has been incredibly united. The togetherness is very high, and the transfer embargo we’ve been under may have actually brought us even closer.”
The 49-year-old manager, who previously won league titles with Zrinjski Mostar and Dinamo Zagreb, admitted this success feels different. “I’ve had great success as a coach before, but with all the problems we faced this season—the embargo, many injuries—this is perhaps the best thing I’ve experienced in football.”
Hull’s journey to the final marks a remarkable turnaround. Just over a year ago, the club survived relegation only on goal difference, and they have operated under a transfer embargo for the last two windows. “At the start of the season, reaching the play-off final was just a dream,” Jakirovic said. “I thought top 10 would be our target. But as the season went on, we got better and better. Now going to Wembley is a great reward.”
Hull captain Lewie Coyle echoed his manager’s sentiments. “It’s incredible. We believed we could do this after securing the play-off spot on the last day in such dramatic fashion. We’ve grafted all year, and it wasn’t just about making the play-offs—we fully believed we could beat a strong Millwall side over two legs. Now we’re going to Wembley.”
The Championship play-off final will take place on May 23, with the winner earning promotion to the Premier League.