Rosenior sacked as City boss in shock move that will divide fans
POPULAR: Liam Rosenior. Picture credit: Hull City
By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor
Liam Rosenior has been sacked as head coach of Hull City in a shock move that will divide fans.
Chairman and owner Acun Ilıcalı said: “This has been the most difficult decision I have had to make as chairman of this wonderful football club. No matter how trying the circumstance, I have to remove personal sentiment from these moments and ensure the long-term vision of the club is at the centre of my thinking.
“Since Liam’s arrival, we have enjoyed an open working relationship and progress has undoubtedly been made over the course of his tenure. He will always be a part of this family and I thank him for all his work.
“However, it has become evident that our visions for the future are not aligned and I feel that now is the time to make a change. Our philosophy is clear, we will continue to drive this club forward, and whilst doing so I will continue to be open and transparent with our fans.
“I know what this football club can achieve, and we will not stop in the pursuit of that. We have worked hard over the last two years to develop our squad. We now have many highly talented players at our disposal and we will continue to invest and improve our playing personnel to give this club and its fans the success they deserve.”
Rosenior, appointed head coach in November 2022, steered City away from relegation in his first campaign, before guiding the side to a seventh-place finish this season. The club said it “would like to place on record its thanks to Liam for his hard work and dedication”.
Assistant coaches, Justin Walker and Ben Warner have also parted company with the club and leave with the club’s thanks and best wishes, City said.
Rosenior’s Tigers narrowly missed out on a play-off place by three points and goal difference on the last day of the season on Saturday, with a 1-0 defeat at Plymouth seeing them end their Championship campaign in seventh.
But the club had made great strides since the former City player was appointed on November 3, 2022 – the Tigers were then just one point above the relegation berths.
Rosenior’s playing style – a patient build-up based on possession – frustrated some supporters wanting a more direct approach, but most seemed to love him, relishing his connections to the club and city, and famously singing “…his nana’s from Hull”.
The club itself dubbed his style “Roseyball”.
The former Tiger, who was in his first permanent managerial role, had described it as his dream job to to have returned to “the club that I love”.
City’s rise up the table under Rosenior also coincided with increased attendances as relatively new owner and chairman Acun Ilıcalı rebuilt the club’s relationship with fans after a difficult period under the ownership of the late Assem Allam.