Hull City manager Sergej Jakirović has said that it would be best for him to join Newcastle United or Everton rather than a club like Manchester United.

The 49-year-old joined Hull City in June 2025 and helped them secure a Premier League promotion in his first season. The Tigers started this season with two league wins over Manchester United and Coventry City.

Since then, Hull City haven’t won in the league, have drawn five, including one against Everton, and lost two. Newcastle United handed them their first defeat in September. Jakirović’s side are 11th in the table, trailing sixth placed Brentford by three points.

Hull City manager talks about support 

Sergej Jakirović won both the title and the cup during the 2023/24 season with Dinamo Zagreb. In September, the Hull City manager said he fancies the Manchester United job when asked if he would like to return to the Croatian club.

He said: “Me?! Where I am, I’m looking towards Manchester United, haha! Never say never. I would be at home in that case, I had a good time at Dinamo…”

Fast forward to November, and Sportske Novosti interviewed the former Dinamo boss. The outlet points out he has shown a Croatian coach can succeed in the Premier League. When responding to that, Jakirović talks about the support he has at Hull City.

“Support is important, which I have. At the end of last season, I couldn’t win six rounds. The momentum changed. In the end, we succeeded in the last round,” he said.

“The boss had sacked coach Liam Rosenior a year earlier, who was seventh, but he told me, I didn’t sack him because he was seventh, but because he wasn’t playing entertaining football. He’s having fun with the football we’re playing now. He told me, don’t think we’ll sack you if we don’t make the play-offs, you’ll stay here for 10 years.”

Newcastle or Everton over Manchester United 

Sportske Novosti asked the Hull City boss what he would do if Manchester United were to call him.

Responding to that, Sergej Jakirović explained: “The boss would be proud, but that’s not realistic. From Hull you can only go to the middle tier. I think that’s my next level. Clubs that are below the top six. To be a coach at the very top, you have to have a pedigree.”

They immediately mentioned Newcastle United and Everton, and about the possibility of managing these two clubs, he added: “That would be great.”

The manager confirmed the clause when asked whether Hull City owner Acun Ilıcalı would ask for compensation.

He concluded: “I have everything defined in my contract; there is no grey area. Seven figures. The media here love me, my broken English. Especially Sky Sports. They say I’m different because I’m direct, I don’t pull any punches. After Fulham, when we were really outplayed, I said it was like men and children playing.”

Everton are seventh in the table, three points behind fourth placed Chelsea, and David Moyes is unlikely to leave the Toffees.

Meanwhile, Newcastle United and Manchester United are 13th and 17th respectively. Both Matthias Jaissle and Michael Carrick’s futures remain uncertain.

SERGEJ JAKIROVIĆ Managerial achievements & honours

Club	Year / season	Achievement
TROPHIES & PROMOTION
Zrinjski Mostar	2021/22	Bosnia and Herzegovina league champion Finished 27 points clear, losing only one league match.
Dinamo Zagreb	2023/24	Croatian league champion First part of a domestic league-and-cup double.
Dinamo Zagreb	2023/24	Croatian Cup winner Beat Rijeka 3–1 on aggregate in the final.
Hull City	2025/26	Championship play-off winner Secured Premier League promotion with a 1–0 final victory over Middlesbrough.
INDIVIDUAL RECOGNITION
Hull City	August 2026	Premier League Manager of the Month Won both August matches, against Manchester United and Coventry City.
OTHER NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
Kayserispor	2024/25	Secured Süper Lig survival Kept the club in Turkey’s top division during his half-season in charge.
Hull City	2025/26	Championship Manager of the Season nominee Shortlisted during his first campaign in English football.

Managerial achievements only. Award nominations and league survival are distinguished from trophies won. Dinamo’s 2023 Croatian Super Cup is excluded because it preceded Jakirović’s appointment.
Updated: 5 November 2026.

SPORT WITNESS