Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic admits the links with West Ham United are ‘flattering’ as rumours grow surrounding the future of Nuno Espirito Santo at the Premier League strugglers.
While Hammers News were told earlier this week that Nuno retains the backing of David Sullivan and co, a dreadful run of results has led to inevitable speculation regarding a second managerial sacking in the space of four months at the London Stadium.
Nuno Espirito Santo has the worst win-rate of any West Ham United manager in the Premier League era.
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A number of potential replacements have been mentioned in the media, as a result.
Slaven Bilic held talks with the Hammers before Nuno replaced Potter in September, and he continues to loom large. Michael Carrick, the former Upton Park midfielder, has also been linked.
There are rumours of interest in Sergej Jakirovic too. The 49-year-old ex-Bosnia and Herzegovina international who has Hull City outside the Championship play-off spots on goal difference, despite well-publicised off-field concerns and a summer transfer ban.
Hull City coach Sergej Jakirovic flattered by West Ham United links
Jakirovic was asked about those West Ham links in an interview with Sportske Novosti. And while insisting that his full focus is on bringing Premier League football back to Humberside, he did admit that he takes a lot of pride in suggestions that he could be the man to revive a sleeping giant.
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“I’ve obviously done a good job here when I’m mentioned in the context of a big English club like West Ham,” says Jakirovic, who won the Bosnian Premier League with Zrinjski Mostar and the Croatian title with Dinamo Zagreb.
“Interest and stories like that are always flattering, but I’m fully focused on every next Hull City game. And no one knows what will happen in the future.
“The crowning glory of my career would definitely be the Premier League. I’ve won championships, played in all three of Europe’s top competitions [Champions League, Europa League and Conference League], so the Premier League would definitely be the pinnacle in terms of coaching.
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“Of course, any offer from the ‘top five’ [domestic European leagues] is a great achievement, but England is several levels above any other league.”
Nuno will hope to put West Ham’s top flight struggles to one side when they host London neighbours Queens Park Rangers in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.
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