Hull City manager Sergej Jakirovic has declared that guiding his team to the Championship play-offs "feels like winning the league" — a testament to the dramatic journey that has defined their season.
The Tigers face Millwall in the first leg of their semi-final on Friday, a matchup that seemed improbable just weeks ago. Hull spent most of the campaign firmly inside the top six, but a worrying run of six games without a win sent them into the final matchday trailing sixth-placed Wrexham on goal difference. The pressure was immense.
What followed was a masterclass in resilience. Jakirovic's men fell behind against Norwich but rallied to win, while Wrexham could only manage a draw with Middlesbrough. The result sparked emotional celebrations that the manager admits left him sleepless.
"I feel excellent — this is a big achievement for us," Jakirovic told BBC Radio Humberside. "It's been a long season, very interesting, and everything was decided in the last round. I didn't sleep well because of all the emotions, but in the morning I felt good. It's a big success for us."
The journey to this point has been remarkable. Jakirovic, a former Bosnia and Herzegovina international, took over last summer after predecessor Ruben Selles was sacked. At that time, Hull had only avoided relegation to League One on goal difference. Fast forward to now, and the Croatian-born manager — in his first season coaching in England after stints in Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, and Turkey — has transformed the club's fortunes.
Jakirovic believes the nail-biting finale against Norwich will serve as perfect preparation for the play-offs. "It will be much easier for us now because you have two games," he explained. "If you're not so good in the first game, you can fix some problems. But in the last round, you have no time — you must win and still don't know if you're in the play-offs. That was huge pressure. We showed great mentality, especially when we were 1-0 down. The moment we equalised immediately was crucial."
With no new injury concerns — defender John Egan was substituted as a precaution against Norwich — the Tigers head into Friday's clash with momentum and belief. For Jakirovic, this is more than just a play-off push; it's the culmination of a season defined by grit, growth, and a team that refused to quit when it mattered most.