Wembley, Vegas, Premier League – jubilant Hull back in the big time

May 23, 2026 No Comments

Jubilant Tigers pounce on promotion chanceImage source, Rex FeaturesImage caption, Hull’s Wembley triumph came a year after they were almost relegated from the ChampionshipByIan WoodcockBBC Sport England at Wembley StadiumPublished23 May 2026, 21:04 BSTUpdated 46 minutes agoEven the most devoted Hull City fan could not have envisaged their season ending like this.Oli McBurnie’s late, late winner against Middlesbrough means the Tigers, who finished 21st in the Championship last season, will play Premier League football next term.The East Yorkshire side have confounded expectations, a transfer embargo, and the off-field drama surrounding Southampton and Spygate, to secure a remarkable promotion.

How to mark it? Well, the players are heading to Las Vegas, having been promised a trip there by club owner Acun Ilicali.

But head coach Sergej Jakirovic will be sitting out the Sin City jaunt as he takes a more peaceful breather before the bright lights of the Premier League beckon.

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

“They go to Vegas. You know what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. This is not for me.”

Hull promoted with late Wembley winner against Boro
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Heartbreak for Boro after missing three chances to go up

Charismatic Jakirovic rebuilds reputation as dream becomes reality

Jakirovic reported before Saturday’s game that his side had become “collateral damage” from Southampton’s expulsion from the play-offs, which left Hull having to pivot from preparing for a game against Saints to plotting for Middlesbrough four days before the final.

Despite the pre-match difficulties and being the underdogs, as they had been in the semi-final against third-placed Millwall, Hull got the job done on a boiling hot day at Wembley.

Promotion capped off a tremendous first season in English football for Hull’s boss, a former Bosnia international.

Jakirovic had won titles in Bosnia and Croatia before a brief spell in Turkey at the end of last season, but he was perhaps only really known in the UK for being the Dinamo Zagreb boss when they were hammered 9-2 by Bayern Munich in the Champions League in 2024-25. He was sacked days later.

If he came to England to prove a point, then it is very much a case of mission accomplished.

“When Oli scored the goal I was thinking ‘I am dreaming and this is a movie’,” Jakirovic reported.

“I’m very emotional. A lot of players were crying from happiness.

“It’s an unbelievable journey. I think we are not aware of everything we have achieved today. We had so many problems.

“I’m very proud of everyone, especially the players; they are the main actors.”

Hull City promoted to the Premier League

Hull were given a transfer embargo in the summer, confining them to free transfers and loans. The sanction was imposed because of late payments to other clubs.

Even with the limitations, Jakirovic had the team in promotion contention throughout the campaign and guided them to a play-off win over a Millwall side who finished three places and 10 points above them.

The 49-year-old is an imposing figure, but his players have benefited from his relaxed approach.

In the news conference after Saturday’s win, he joked that Southampton might have watched his side train but that it wasn’t a problem as “sometimes we are too bad”.

‘I thought “What have I joined?”‘

Hull avoided relegation back to the third tier on the final day of last season with a 1-1 draw at Portsmouth.

Head of recruitment Martin Hodge was appointed weeks later and admitted that watching on from the stands that day at Fratton Park he had questioned whether the role was right for him. It turned out well enough in the end.

“We put a squad together just to try and get out of this league. The lads have been absolutely brilliant, and the manager has been a breath of fresh air,” Hodge told BBC Radio Humberside.

“This is my 52nd year [in football] and I’ve been all over the world with Wales, I’ve been with big clubs. But this is the biggest achievement for me.

“I sat at Portsmouth last year, and I thought ‘What have I joined?’

“So, in the space of a year, I think that the biggest credit, the biggest achievement, is to those lads in the management, and our staff.”

Oli McBurnie scores for Hull against Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final — Image caption,

The all-important goal came in the fifth minute of stoppage time

Hodge, who brought in experienced Championship campaigners like defender John Egan and match-winner McBurnie, will now have a slightly bigger budget to work with for the coming season.

Ilicali made headlines before the play-off final when he reported he would consider legal action if reinstated Boro beat his side.

The fallout from Spygate probably has a long way to go yet, but there will be no need for that particular action.

“This is the best day of my life for sure. Because in my career, I managed many successes starting from zero in my business. But football is a crazy thing,” Ilicali told Sky Sports.

“We waited so much time [in stoppage time at the end]. Last five minutes, I couldn’t move because I wouldn’t be able to handle a last-minute goal.”

Focus will eventually turn to preparations for the top flight. But for now, whether it’s in Vegas, Croatia, Turkey or East Yorkshire, everyone connected with Hull can celebrate.

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