Wembley, Vegas, Premier League - jubilant Hull back in the big time
Jakirovic said 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 said. "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 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.