‘I’ve got goose bumps’: Ex-Tiger Liam Rosenior makes emotional return as manager
‘I HAD A FEELING I’D COME BACK’: New Hull City boss Liam Rosenior
By Simon Bristow
New Hull City manager Liam Rosenior believes it was his destiny to return to “the club that I love”.
The 38-year-old former Tigers player was unveiled as the club’s new head coach today, and said: “I had a feeling I’d be back here one day. I’ve got goose bumps talking about it, to be honest with you.”
Rosenior, who had been in interim charge of League One Derby County, has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at the MKM Stadium - his first permanent managerial post in the game.
That makes him the Tigers third coach of a rollercoaster season, following Shota Arveladze, who was sacked on September 30 after eight months in charge, and Andy Dawson, who had been caretaker manager since then.
Dawson will remain at the club as an assistant coach, Rosenior said, with more staff appointments expected to be announced within days.
‘I WANT US TO BE BRAVE AND TO DOMINATE’: Liam Rosenior outlines his philosophy at today’s press conference
Speaking his first words as City manager at a press conference today, Rosenior was asked what it was like to return to the club he served so well as a player, and said: “It’s a club that I love. It’s something really, really special and gives me a lot of motivation to be successful, to get this club back to where it was when I was playing - full houses and in the top league.”
The appointment has delighted fans with a former player taking the reins, and Rosenior had not forgotten the song that was sang to him in his playing days.
Saying his appointment “means everything”, he told reporters: “I had a feeling I‘d be back here one day. I’ve got goose bumps talking about it, to be honest with you. My family are so pleased. They sang a song, ‘Your nana’s from Hull’ - a year ago this month she passed away.
“I was at Cottingham cemetery and she was in the crematorium with a Hull shirt. That gives me motivation to do her proud. I told my mum and she started crying, so I think my nan would have been really tearful. She’ll be looking down on me.”
‘EXCEPTIONAL CANDIDATE’: The image the club used to announce Rosenior’s appointment on social media
Rosenior was seated alongside Vice-Chairman Tan Kesler and Captain Lewie Coyle. Asked why Rosenior was the right person, Kesler said: “His passion impressed me. But it’s not [just] about passion it’s also about knowledge and being ready for the job and he gave me the perception he’s ready for us.
“He served the club as a player for a long time, but that wasn’t the only consideration. From the first minute I think he was exceptional and different from all the other candidates. For me his philosophy was a key point. His philosophy meant more than him being a player for the club.”
Kesler said the club had received more than 40 applications for the job, from the UK and abroad.
Asked what style fans could expect from Rosenior’s Tigers, the new manager said: “I think it’s brave. I want to dominate. I want to play out from the back. I want my players in high, attacking positions. But I also want energy and pressing on the ball. You’ll see it!”, he said, smiling.
Asked if City were still aiming to reach the Premier League - Rosenior joins with the club in 21st place in the Championship - Kesler said: “I’m never going to come in front of you and lie. If you don’t set your goals high you can’t reach them. So for us promotion is always our dream.
“We expect him to get us there on a timeline where everybody feels comfortable and good about it.”
Rosenior, who has been watching City’s recent matches, took training for the first time this morning. He said: “For me the most important thing, and this is a really key message for every single player in the building - they are the most important people. It’s a clean sheet for every single player.”
Rosenior’s first game in charge will be a tricky trip to Millwall on Saturday. City are just one place above the relegation berths, with 20 points from 18 matches. Millwall are seven points better off in ninth.
‘PROMOTION IS ALWAYS OUR DREAM’: Vice-Chairman Tan Kesler, right, speaking at today’s press conference
Looking ahead to the game, Rosenior said: “I think we’ve got a perfect game on Saturday. I don’t think there’s a better mental test than going away to Millwall.”
Three days later the Tigers are at Cardiff, with the fans’ first chance to welcome the manager at the MKM Stadium being the visit of Reading on November 12. The Championship season will then pause for five weeks to accommodate the Qatar World Cup.
Rosenior, a former full-back, returns to East Yorkshire having made 161 appearances in Black and Amber during a five-year spell from 2010 to 2015, winning promotion from the Championship in 2012/13.
He was a key member of the team that secured City’s highest league finish of 16th in the Premier League, and reached a first FA Cup final in 2013/14.
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The ex-Bristol City, Fulham and Reading defender took up his first coaching position at Brighton & Hove Albion in 2018 following his retirement from playing, working as assistant coach with their Under-23s.
Joining Derby County’s coaching set-up in July 2019, initially as specialist first-team coach to Phillip Cocu, he was promoted to assistant manager under Wayne Rooney in January 2021.
Rosenior helped Derby stave off relegation in 2020/21, and although the Rams succumbed to the drop last season, they put up a valiant effort amid off-field uncertainty and points deductions.
Following Rooney’s departure, he was handed the reins on an interim basis and presided over seven wins from his 12 games in charge, leaving Derby seventh in League One.
Announcing Rosenior’s appointment, the club said in a statement: “We would like to thank Andy Dawson for his efforts as interim head coach and can confirm he will remain part of the club’s coaching staff.”