EXCLUSIVE
Hull owner Acun Ilicali has explained why Liam Rosenior was sacked on Tuesday.
The club announced that it was parting ways with Rosenior just days after missing out on the Championship play-offs.
3
Hull were seventh and three points off Norwich after losing to Plymouth on the final day of the season.
Rosenior, who made 161 appearances for the club as a player, had been in charge since November 2022 and took over when they were 22nd in the Championship.
He turned them into play-off contenders, falling short at the crucial moment.
The 39-year-old had even been nominated for Championship manager of the season and had signed a contract extension as recently as December.
Read more
He told talkSPORT: “I think he had been in charge of the team for two-and-a-half years now, two complete years. Our aim from the first minute was to progress and make a beautiful team for the beautiful fans.
“Our focus is on how to make this team go to higher stages for the fans and how we can improve the team.
“But in football the most important thing is to be united in everything so success can come more and more. When you have a difference of thinking from the coaching side and the ownership, it is not good for the team to go for a long-term journey.
“Liam is a fantastic coach and a fantastic person, but at the end of the day we have to do what is best for the club.
3
“We had to make a decision for the future of our club and unfortunately our decision is not to continue with Liam."
Ilicali was pressed on why he decided to part ways with Rosenior and it all came down to their philiosphy.
He continued: “Liam has a way of football thinking and football philosophy that I completely respect, but the football I want to see in my team is not the style Liam was playing.
“I think he’s successful, I think he’s okay, but there is a dream for me of the football club playing the style of football which does not match with his style. This is natural in football.
Ed Sheeran facetimes the Ipswich squad to plan a Premier League promotion party as the players celebrate in the dressing room
“Every country, you play a different style of football and there are so many different philosophies.
“Do we want to play like this for the future, we didn’t want to play like this. I’m an offensive style character and more attacking style in my own life and career.
Most read in Championship
“In football, what we like is an attacking style of football. I’m not saying Liam’s style of football is bad, but it is not for us."
The Hull owner rewarded Rosenior with a new contract in December, but admitted things quickly started turning after that.
3
“The separation started after January. After January, we made the best recruitment in the league. Carvalho , Abdulkadir Omur from Turkey. Even our left-back is the most attacking left-back in the team.
“Our recruitment was for a completely attacking style. You have to find a coach that matches the recruitment. Before January we were on the same page as Liam.
“I respect his play, but I want to jump on my seat. I want the crowd to be more and more excited.
“I think Liam is a very good coach, but we want a very good coach with an attacking style mentality."
The name of former Hamburg coach Tim Walter was put to Ilicali and he said no decision has been made.
Read More on talkSPORT
He added: "There are some managers we are thinking about. I cannot put one name in front. I have to thank Liam for putting us in a good position and we are attractive for many managers.
"We will have many options. We are not in a big rush, but we will find a solution as soon as possible."