Speculation can be draining and distracting but also, on other occasions, pretty ‘flattering’. At least, that was the word one of the most influential managers in England right now reacted to those links with West Ham United a few weeks back.
Now, at the outset, we have to say that there was never really any chance that Nuno Espirito Santo would lose his job. Even in the darkest of days following that trouncing by Wolves, Hammers News understands that Nuno always retained David Sullivan’s backing.
Now, as West Ham United rattle off three successive wins for the first time since November 2023, the feeling is that Sullivan’s faith may yet receive the ultimate award.
Comment on where you now think West Ham will finish in the Premier League 👇
We are staying up 🎵
But if Nuno was appointed as something of a ‘sure thing’ – the safest pair of hands having taken Nottingham Forest from a relegation battle to the European spots recently – the same could not be said of Hull City and Sergej Jakirovic.
Sergej Jakirovic inspires Hull City’s promotion charge after West Ham United links
Hull have been here before under the tumultuous reign of Turkish owner Acun Ilicali. But where Shota Arveladze and Tim Walter failed, Jakirovic is thriving.
The Tigers boss earning his stripes along the way.
Now, the 49-year-old Bosnian was actually linked with the West Ham post at the beginning of January, as the pressure on Nuno’s shoulders intensified and the Londoners slipped further and further adrift of safety.
Sergej Jakirovic called those West Ham rumours ‘flattering’.
While Hammers News can confirm that sporting director Mark Noble is a fan of Michael Carrick, Scott Parker and Frank Lampard – while Slaven Bilic held talks with Sullivan following Graham Potter’s sacking in September – whether there is any truth to those Jakirovic links is yet to be revealed.
But as Hull City climb up to fourth in the Championship, and only eight points off Lampard’s league-leading Coventry, Jakirovic is certainly one to watch.
“They are only two points off third. They’ve obviously got a huge chance of finishing in the top two,” Football League oracle George Elek says on the Not the Top 20 podcast. “I still can’t really see it myself, or I think they’re quite clearly the least likely of the four [in contention].
“But you know, there comes a point when you’ve got to just say to Sergej Jakirovic and his team, they are absolutely incredible at finding a way to get over the line.”
Jakirovic’s ‘scintillating’ football would appeal to Hammers fans
Hull finished 21st last season, avoiding the drop by goal difference alone. As turnarounds go, then, this is their Uncut Gems after a series of Grown-Ups. From Razzie nominees to Oscar contention.
A league champion in Bosnia with Zrinjski Mostar and Croatia with Dinamo Zagreb, Jakirovic has instilled a high-intensity, all-action approach revolving around creating a consistent stream of goalscoring and shooting opportunities.
In Oli McBurnie and Joe Gelhardt, Hull have two players in double figures already. Rampaging left-back Ryan Giles also has a league-high eight assists.
Finish this sentence! ⚒️
"If Nuno leaves West Ham in the summer, my dream replacement is….."
Considering that Potter became unpopular for his plodding, possession style and even David Moyes came under fire from some quarters for a more pragmatic approach, Jakirovic certainly appears to share the same principles as those supporters wedded to the ‘West Ham Way’.
“Hull are a scintillating watch,” adds Elek, while acknowledging that Lady Luck has been shining down on Humberside at times. “They’ve got players in McBurnie and in Gelhardt who, at different times of the season, have been goal-scoring sensations. When you’ve got that in your team, it’s pretty easy to pick up points.
“The key thing here for Hull is that in so many games this season, the big moments seem to go their way. It is unbelievable; the important chances that are missed against them, and their capacity to find ways to score and find ways to score the crucial goal…
“It’s incredible. It’s clutch.
“It obviously defies logic in terms of the data and the underlying numbers. You know, they concede a lot of goals, but they score a lot of goals, and it’s the scoring of goals rather than the conceding that is the thing that’s keeping them where they are right now.
“I still think in the last few weeks we’ve definitely seen a shift in the way that their games look. Where they were far more end-to-end, they are [now] a little bit better defensively. I think they’ve lost something going forward at the same time, but that’s understandable.”
Former Dinamo Zagreb boss said West Ham links were ‘flattering’
Nuno signed a three-year deal when he replaced Potter a few months back. Should a parting of the ways arrive earlier than planned, for whatever reason, a successful end to Hull’s promotion push between now and May could see Jakirovic come under serious consideration.
“I’ve obviously done a good job here when I’m mentioned in the context of a big English club like West Ham,” Jakirovic told Sportske Novosti.
“Interest and stories like that are always flattering, but I’m fully focused on every next Hull City game. And no one knows what will happen in the future.
“The crowning glory of my career would definitely be the Premier League. I’ve won championships, played in all three of Europe’s top competitions [Champions League, Europa League and Conference League], so the Premier League would definitely be the pinnacle in terms of coaching.
“Of course, any offer from the ‘top five’ [domestic European leagues] is a great achievement, but England is several levels above any other league.”
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
