The ex-City defender made an emotional return to his old stomping ground on Friday evening
Barry Cooper Hull City correspondent
09:30, 15 Feb 2026Updated 09:30, 15 Feb 2026
Sergej Jakirovic with Liam Rosenior at the MKM Stadium
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Sergej Jakirovic with Liam Rosenior at the MKM Stadium (Image: Mark Cosgrove/News Images)
Liam Rosenior has praised the job being done by Sergej Jakirovic at Hull City and says he hopes the Tigers can finally end their Premier League exile.
Rosenior was back at the MKM Stadium on Friday night for the first time since leaving the club almost two years ago, with his impressive Chelsea side easing to a 4-0 win in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Attention for City returns to the quest for points in the race for promotion on Saturday when they kick off a run of seven games in 21 days with the visit of QPR to the MKM Stadium.
City sit fourth in the Championship, and have a healthy cushion to the chasing pack with 15 games to go of what has been a fine season under the Croatian.
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Their squad, featuring the likes of Lewie Coyle, Regan Slater, Ivor Pandur and Ryan Giles, who all played under Rosenior at City, will be a crucial factor, he says.
"I just think, analysing the games and knowing the characters in the dressing room and what the club are trying to build, I think that the spirit, the character of the team and their threat in transition, they're going to be a difficult team," Rosenior told Hull Live. "I really, really hope it happens. So I wish them all the best. It's so nice to see so many really, really welcoming faces here. And I think the manager's doing a fantastic job and I wish them all the best."
After the game, City's current and former bosses shared a beer in the manager's office before Rosenior made a quick trip to the chairman's suite, where he greeted Tigers owner Acun Ilicali.
"First, I'm going to go and see my opposing manager, have a beer with him because he welcomed me really, really well, and then I'll go and see Acun upstairs," added Rosenior.
The former City defender also admitted he wasn't sure about the reaction he would get from the supporters who used to cheer him, but at various moments, he was serenaded before applauding all corners of the arena.
"Yeah, to be honest, you just never know and I didn't really think about it," Rosenior confessed. "I really just focus on my job. I always have a special, special feeling for this club, regardless of how I was being received. But for the fans, they were top. I've had so many good moments with them, and I appreciate and thank them for the reception they gave me."
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