Rosenior delight as skipper Coyle pens long-term Tigers deal

‘PLAYED THROUGH THE PAIN BARRIER’: Lewie Coyle

By Simon Bristow

Club Captain Lewie Coyle has signed a new three-year deal at Hull City.

The club activated the one-year option in his previous contact but has now tied the 27-year-old down to a longer-term deal, which includes a club option of a further year.

The Hull-born right-back has made exactly 100 appearances for his hometown club since signing from Fleetwood Town in August 2020.

Featuring 34 times in an impressive debut season, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year as City were crowned League One Champions, wearing the armband in Richie Smallwood’s absence.

His first Tigers strike – a last-minute, long-range piledriver in a thrilling 3-2 EFL Trophy win from 2-0 down against former club Fleetwood – won City’s 2020/21 Goal of the Season prize.

Helping the Tigers consolidate back in the second tier, Coyle played 23 matches the following season and scored a fine left-footed curler in the survival-clinching 2-1 victory over Cardiff City.

The whole-hearted full-back was appointed captain ahead of the 2022/23 campaign and brought up a century of appearances in the final game away to Luton Town – his 43rd outing of the season.

Head coach Liam Rosenior said: “I’m absolutely delighted. Lewie has been magnificent in my time at the club and is a huge member of the dressing room – a great role model and leader.

“He played through the pain barrier last season, which sums him up as a character. He epitomises the city, works so hard and is improving on a technical level because of how well he applies himself every day in training.

“He's an outstanding defender who enjoys one-v-one defending, plays with energy, gets forward and can deliver a final ball and cross. He’s still got so much potential.

“We want competition and in Lewie and Cyrus Christie, we have two top players who will be fighting it out for that right-back position.”