Sergej Jakirovic has wasted no time announcing himself to the Premier League. Two games, two wins, one giant statement – and now the Barclays Manager of the Month award to show for it.
The 49-year-old Hull City boss has been named August’s standout manager after guiding the newly promoted Tigers to a perfect opening in their first top-flight campaign for nine years. It is a landmark moment on several fronts.
Hull have had to wait a long time for this kind of recognition. Not since Mike Phelan in August 2016 has a Tigers manager collected the monthly prize. Before that, you have to go back to Phil Brown in September 2008. Jakirovic now joins that small, select group as only the third Hull manager ever to win it.
His achievement stretches beyond club history. By taking the award, Jakirovic becomes the first Bosnian to be crowned Barclays Manager of the Month. The Premier League’s roll of honour now features bosses from 21 different countries, and his name is the latest to push that boundary.
The path to this moment started months ago. Hull’s promotion last season, secured the hard way through the Championship playoffs, hinted at a team with resilience and a manager with a clear plan. August confirmed it.
On the opening weekend of the 2026/27 season, Jakirovic’s side stunned the division. Hull went to toe-to-toe with Manchester United and walked away with a sensational 2-0 victory, a result that sent a jolt through the league and lit up their return to the big stage.
That might have been enough for some newly promoted sides: one marquee scalp, a feel-good story, and a reality check to follow. Jakirovic refused to let the narrative drift. Next came Coventry City, another of the promoted clubs, and another test of nerve.
In a tight, edgy contest, Hull found a late winner to edge out their fellow newcomers. It was not as glamorous as beating United, but in many ways it was just as revealing. This was a manager and a team backing up a headline result with hard points, grinding when they needed to, holding their shape, and striking when the moment came.
Two matches do not define a season, but they can define an entrance. Jakirovic has walked into the Premier League and immediately bent it to his will. The award in his hands is a reflection of that impact – and a warning that Hull City’s return is not built on sentiment, but on substance.
