Hull City's appointment of Sergej Jakirovic last summer left many fans skeptical after the club had just avoided relegation. The Bosnian manager faced criticism as a "complete nobody" with no English football experience. Yet with Hull sitting just five points off the Championship's top two, Jakirovic has proven his doubters wrong ahead of Friday's FA Cup clash against Chelsea.

The Tigers' transformation followed a 4-1 loss to Middlesbrough in January, which prompted a defensive overhaul. Since that defeat, Hull has conceded just nine goals in 12 games, keeping eight clean sheets while winning more points than in the entire previous season.

Jakirovic deserves significant credit for steering Hull toward promotion despite mounting injuries to key players like Oli McBurnie and John Lundstram. The club's recent form keeps a return to the Premier League very much in reach as Hull's unlikely charge under the much-maligned manager continues to defy expectations.