Liverpool youngster Lewis Koumas played his part in helping the Tigers gain promotion
05:00, 31 May 2026
Lewis Koumas celebrates at Wembley
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Lewis Koumas celebrates at Wembley(Image: Andrew Fosker/Shutterstock )
Hull City's head of recruitment, Martin Hodge, has praised the impact of boss Sergej Jakirovic, after the Croatian guided the Tigers to the Premier League in his first season in English football.
Jakirovic masterminded a 1-0 win at Wembley against Middlesbrough to seal City's impressive return to the top flight just 12 months on from their final-day rescue act to avoid relegation to League One.
The imposing former Dinamo Zagreb manager inspired a team written off by almost everyone at the beginning of the season, and they can now look forward to playing in the top flight next season.
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Hodge, 67, admits the way in which Jakirovic has operated this season has been a breath of fresh air, with his relaxed, no-nonsense approach proving crucial.
"The credit goes to the players and the management, and I have to say the manager's a different breed because I've worked for managers who are like, 'You can't do this, you can't do that, you're not allowed out'. He has given them the freedom to be men, and they've responded by playing how they've played," Hodge told Hull Live.
"When the chips are down, they've stood up, and that's because the man over there (Jakirovic) has gone, 'I trust you, and I trust the dressing room.'
Hodge also regaled a story about Liverpool loanee Lewis Koumas, who arrived from Anfield in January after a difficult first half of the season at Birmingham City.
The 20-year-old winger made 11 starts in 19 appearances and his three goals to claim victories were absolutely crucial in helping City finish the season inside the top six, and have their shot at promotion.
"Koumas, who's a young lad. I spoke to him at dinner time, and he said, 'Thanks to you and Jared for bringing me to the club, this is absolutely magnificent.' He said the changing room is the best I've seen in my young years," Hodge continued. "I said that all along, this is very, very similar to what Dychey (Sean Dyche) had at Burnley, and that went up as well. You've got to know this division, and I think that me and Jared know this division."
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