Sergej Jakirovic's holiday will have to wait a little longer after he led his Hull City team into the Championship play-off final. The Bosnian boss has now had to cancel two trips - one after finishing sixth and another after leading the Tigers to Wembley with a 2-0 win at Millwall.
“At least the bonus is good!” Jakirovic joked after the win at The Den, which he described as a high point of his career. “I cannot go home… I will go after the final. It’s a great feeling, an amazing feeling, a great achievement for the club, for everyone.”
After more than 150 goalless minutes over the two legs it was Hull’s substitutes who made the difference in south London on Monday night. Mo Belloumi curled in the opener before playing a big part in the counter-attacking goal which saw Joe Gelhardt clinch victory.
Algerian winger Belloumi started the first leg but Jakirovic admitted he couldn’t train properly just one day before the game as he felt the effect of various injury setbacks throughout the season. “We tried today to spare him because [on Sunday] he was dead,” the manager said.
“Hamstring. Achilles. Because of his condition before the injury, after injury. So he didn't even have a proper training session. [When he doesn’t] start in the game that means that he has problems, because he's very important, he's a first-11 player.
“We decided… we would put in Kyle [Joseph] because of Kyle's energy, work ethic and everything. Unfortunately, we lost him after this tackle, which is normal in football, and then Mo Belloumi came earlier [than planned].”
Joseph limped off on the stroke of half-time after a scissor-tackle in the middle of the park. Jakirovic said the 24-year-old would go in for tests on Tuesday to determine the extent of the injury, with the play-off final at Wembley still more than a week away.
It was another change which made victory safe, with Gelhardt’s shot squirming through the grasp of Millwall keeper Anthony Patterson. “Now I'm the master,” Jakirovic said, anticipating the reaction to his impact sub.
“In my job, after every substitution [it’s usually], 'I made a mistake, I'm the fool.’ But every player is very important, you have to be ready because the team needs you. You must do everything to make an impact and this is a great example.”
Gelhardt, who had only been on for a minute when he found the net, now has 15 goals during a season-long loan from Leeds. “I'm buzzing,” he said. “I've never played at Wembley so hopefully, I can play. I've been with Leeds against Southampton [in the 2024 play-off final] but I never got on, so hopefully I can get on this time.”
Jakirovic has won trophies in the past, including the Bosnian and Croatian league titles. But taking Hull to Wembley already tops that. “It's like a dream because if you told me at the start of the season, you will be in the final, I would say, you are crazy,” he said. “But this group of players, since day one they're very hardworking, they have togetherness… chemistry between them. Since I've been a coach this is maybe the best thing I’ve done.”
