THE YEAR OF THE TIGER

Had every Championship fixture been decided on expected goals last season, Hull City would have been relegated – instead, they returned to the Premier League via the play-offs after a nine-year absence. Significantly outperforming their xG at both ends of the field, the Tigers overtook Wrexham on the final day of the season to climb back into the top six after coming from behind to beat Norwich. Despite being 6/1 outsiders to win the play-offs, they then defeated a Millwall side that had finished 10 points ahead of them, before Oli McBurnie’s late goal downed Middlesbrough at Wembley. 

They’d originally been due to play Southampton, of course – the south coast side’s disqualification was only the second time in EFL play-off history that a team had been booted out. Back in 1990, financial irregularities did for Swindon, after they beat Sunderland in the play-off final – the Wearside club took their place in the top flight, but were swiftly relegated a year later. 

Hull similarly have their work cut out,  but return to the Premier League more united than last time, when Marco Silva couldn’t prevent their relegation under unpopular owner Assem Allam in 2017.

Average gates subsequently dipped below 12,000, before they dropped to League One in 2020 following an 8-0 loss at Wigan. After promotion back to the Championship, Hull were taken over in 2022 by Turkish media mogul Acun Ilicali – crowds have risen back to above 21,000, and although there was controversy when Liam Rosenior was sacked for narrowly missing out on the play-offs in 2024, it was a sign their new owner was eyeing the Premier League. 

That seemed a long way away when Hull finished 21st in 2024-25, surviving on the final day, but the appointment of Bosnian Sergej Jakirovic transformed them into promotion chasers, even if last term’s points total of 73 was the lowest of any promoted side since 2013. 

This summer, they were also tasked with raising £6m from player sales by the end of June, after an overspend under profit and sustainability rules. Ivor Pandur was sold to Rangers, with Jack Butland moving the other way. 

Manchester United visit the MKM Stadium on the opening weekend – if they hear a ‘mauled by the Tigers’ chant, accompanied by grown men and women comically clawing at thin air, pretending to be wild cats, you’ll know it hasn’t gone well for the visitors.