IN terms of proving himself as 'The Normal One' at Hull City, Sergej Jakirovic is doing an exceedingly good job.
One of the best kept secrets for much of his first season in English football at Championship level with the Tigers in 2025-26, the 49-year-old is now starting to earn kudos on a wider scale - both here and abroad.
Jakirovic, the first Bosnian manager to win a Premier League game last month, has been deservedly named as the top-flight's manager of the month for August after overseeing successive wins over Manchester United and Coventry City.
His coaching idol in the shape of former Liverpool manager and new Germany boss Jurgen Klopp won a stack of those accolades in his time in England.
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic has been named as the Premier League's manager of the month for August.placeholder image
Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic has been named as the Premier League's manager of the month for August.
It's been a rewarding time of late for Jakirovic, with the ink still drying on a new two-year contract signed earlier this month.
He is now under contract at the East Yorkshire club until the summer of 2028 with a club option for a further year.
Like Klopp, he is also compulsive listening when it comes to press conferences. Along with his hero's man-management skills, Jakirovic also possesses a sharp tactical mind.
Jakirovic told The Yorkshire Post: "I like Jurgen Klopp a lot. Because no matter which budget he has, or he had - and which club where he was head coach - his style always transmits on his team. This is his biggest advantage.
Sergej Jakirovic (Image: Press Association)placeholder image
Sergej Jakirovic (Image: Press Association)
"No matter if he is in Mainz, Borussia Dortmund or Liverpool. So this is (the same) for me. Of course, you cannot (also) say Guardiola is bad!.
"All these (famous) head coaches, they have a very good football idea and vision. You can say Guardiola changed football completely in the last 15 years. You can always take some examples and try to put in your team.
"But it's also about the quality of your players. What they can do, what they cannot do. Sometimes I'm pragmatic there.
"In this league, I think every head coach is great. They have their own style. It's very interesting to compete with them."
Jakirovic's next challenge is on Saturday at a venue which has proved to be Hull's bogey ground for well over a century.
The Tigers have been winless in their previous 23 visits to Chelsea's Stamford Bridge home since being the first league opponents there for the Blues back in 1905, almost exactly 121 years to the day.