Acun Ilicali, the owner of Hull City, has described the club's potential promotion to the Premier League via Saturday's playoff final as 'finishing the miracle'. The Turkish media mogul, often compared to Simon Cowell, has overseen a turbulent yet successful era at the club since taking over in January 2022.
A Journey of Highs and Lows
Ilicali purchased Hull City for £20 million from the Allam family, who had faced fan backlash over plans to rename the club Hull Tigers. Since then, the club has experienced multiple coaching changes, playoff battles, and relegation scares. This season, however, Hull secured sixth place on the final day and defeated third-placed Millwall over two legs to reach Wembley.
Reflecting on the achievement, Ilicali said: 'Leicester’s Premier League win is the biggest glory in British football for me, ever. And this year, considering what we have done, it’s a completely incredible story. I hope I can make the miracle completely finished.'
Learning from Mistakes
Ilicali acknowledged errors along the way, including the appointment of Tim Walter in 2024, which brought only three wins in 18 games. 'If you think you are not the cleverest person in the world, then you have to accept that you make some mistakes,' he said. 'People thought I was changing coaches because of my ego, but I was changing them because of my lack of ego.'
The club has shifted away from relying on loan players, now owning every starter in the semi-final win over Millwall. Sporting director Jared Dublin has focused on long-term recruitment, with Ilicali spending over £100 million on the squad. 'When I look at my squad, I can see big value. This makes me happy,' he added.
Full Focus on Hull
Ilicali admitted that his role as Fenerbahce vice-president from summer 2024 caused a distraction, but Hull have since benefited from his undivided attention. The confirmation that Saturday's opponents will be Middlesbrough, not Southampton, added to the drama of spygate.
Describing Wembley as a place of childhood suffering due to Turkish national team losses, Ilicali said: 'Now I am going to Wembley for a final as an owner of a club I bought four years ago. It means a lot to me.'
What Promotion Would Mean
If Hull triumph, the team will head to Nevada for a celebration. Ilicali has a close relationship with players but is more businesslike with coach Sergej Jakirovic, whom he meets weekly for dinner. 'I’m an owner involved in transfers and the team, but not at a disturbance level. I just want to comfort the staff,' he said.
Ilicali is cautious about the Premier League, noting that most promoted teams are relegated. 'The ideal scenario can be Sunderland for the first year. The Premier League is dangerous, but if you are afraid, you will never get success.'
With nerves building from Hull to Istanbul, Ilicali remains stoic: 'I don’t celebrate goals very much. I only celebrate when something is completely finished.' A promotion could change that at Wembley.
