Hull City head coach Liam Rosenior has been sacked after failing to lead his team to the Championship play-offs, according to BBC Radio Humberside. Despite guiding the Tigers to a seventh-place finish in the Championship this season, their first top-half finish since 2016, a 1-0 defeat by Plymouth on Saturday meant they missed out on the play-offs by just three points. However, Rosenior’s efforts were recognized as he was nominated for the Championship manager of the season award, which was ultimately won by Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna.
Rosenior, 39, had a strong connection with Hull City, having spent five years as a player for the club and helping them gain promotion to the Premier League in 2013. He returned to the MKM Stadium in December 2022 to succeed Shota Arveladze as head coach, after previously working as an assistant under Phillip Cocu and Wayne Rooney at Derby County. Prior to that, Rosenior began his coaching career with Brighton before joining Derby in 2019.
The 2022-23 season saw Hull City finish in 15th place under Rosenior’s guidance. However, a strong start to the following season gave hope for a promotion challenge, including a notable 1-0 win against Leicester, making them the only team to take points off the Foxes until November. A run of five wins out of six in the new year, with four of them coming away from home, propelled the Tigers into the play-off positions. Unfortunately, they were unable to maintain their form and failed to win any of their next six games. The defeat at Home Park ultimately dashed any remaining hopes of overtaking West Brom or Norwich for sixth place.
Rosenior’s departure from Hull City marks the end of his 18-month tenure as head coach. Despite falling short of reaching the play-offs this season, his achievements in guiding the team to a top-half finish after years of underperformance should not be overlooked. The fact that he was nominated for the Championship manager of the season award is a testament to his impact on the club.
Moving forward, Hull City will need to find a replacement for Rosenior who can build on the progress made and potentially lead the team to the desired promotion. The decision to sack Rosenior may have been influenced by the club’s ambitious goals and desire for immediate success. With the right appointment, Hull City can continue their journey towards reclaiming their place in the Premier League.