After sacking Ruben Selles, Hull City are on the lookout for another manager. Here, I will look at a few of the names currently in the frame.
Tony Mowbray
Tony Mowbray would be a departure for the Tigers, but his style of attacking football would be attractive to both the ownership and fans. The 61-year-old has a wealth of Championship experience, having previously managed clubs including Birmingham City, Sunderland, and Blackburn Rovers. His biggest success came at West Brom in 2008, when his Baggies team won the Championship title. Ironically, after returning to the Hawthorns in January this year, he was sacked after just three months following a run of poor results.
Philip Cocu
Former PSV and Derby manager Philip Cocu could be a surprise name to take over at the MKM stadium. He took the Rams to a tenth place finish back in the 2019-20 Championship season, and his team’s dynamic attacking play became known as ‘Cocuball’. The good times didn’t last, however, and Cocu and the club parted company in November 2020, with Derby sitting bottom of the Championship. Most recently, Cocu managed Eredivisie club Vitesse, although he is currently a free agent, having resigned from the Dutch club in November 2023. Like Mowbray, his brand of attacking play would be appealing to both Hull fans and the ownership.
Ryan Mason
Former Hull player Ryan Mason fits the City managerial template – young, highly rated coach – but he has never had a permanent managerial role. He has had a couple of caretaker stints in charge of Tottenham Hotspur – once after Jose Mourinho was sacked in 2021, and again in 2023, when he replaced Cristian Stellini. Mason is one of the favourites for the West Brom job, but that could change if Hull make a move. He played 16 games for Hull in 2016, but suffered a career ending injury in January 2017, with Hull fans raising money for brain injury charity Headway in his honour. If Mason does decide to leave his assistant role at Spurs, his connection with the Tigers could prove crucial in where he decides to go.
Tom Cleverley
Tom Cleverley could be another name to watch in this managerial race. He took over as interim Watford boss when Valerien Ismael was sacked in March 2024, and was given the job full time at the end of the season after an impressive run of six wins in seven games. Watford were in and around the playoff places this season up until March this year, when one win from their last seven games saw them drift away, finishing the season in 14th. Cleverley was sacked on 6 May by the trigger-happy owners, the Pozzos, much to the dismay of Watford fans, who had seen Cleverley’s potential. Hull could be a good fit for Cleverley, but with QPR also rumoured to be interested, the question is: would he want to be at the mercy of another impulsive owner?
Sean Dyche
Okay, this one could be a wildcard, but I thought he was worth a mention. Like Tony Mowbray, he has a ton of experience, and established Burnley as Premier League regulars for six years until he was sacked in April 2022, with the club ultimately being relegated at the end of that season. Dyche was appointed manager of Everton in January 2023 and endured a tumultuous couple of years, with the club incurring a two point deduction after breaching FFP rules. He was sacked in January this year, just three hours before an FA Cup tie against Peterborough. Dyche has a great record in the Championship, being promoted twice with Burnley – once after winning the Championship title – but his brand of ‘Dycheball’ may not be appealing to Hull fans. It is also doubtful whether Dyche would be willing to make the step down into the Championship.
Who do you think will be the next Hull manager? Leave a comment below!
