Meet the opposition | Hull City
As Swansea City ready themselves for a Good Friday meeting with Hull City, we take a closer look at the Tigers.
What's their story?
Established in 1904, Hull have spent long periods of their history in the lower reaches of the EFL, but have enjoyed one of the most successful periods in their history since the turn of the century.
Some 104 years after their formation they reached the top-flight for the first time under the stewardship of Phil Brown in 2008, as they beat Bristol City in the play-off final.
They spent two years in the Premier League and have had two further stints in the elite division since, with the most recent ending in 2017.
The Tigers briefly fell into League One in 2020, but bounced straight back to the Championship at the first attempt before finishing 19th the year after. They narrowly missed out on the play-offs last term, but have had a harder time of things this season.
The closest they have come to winning a major honour was in 2014, when they reached the FA Cup final before losing 3-2 to Arsenal after extra-time.
How's their form?
Improving at a key time. Along with Derby, Hull have been the side near the bottom to consistently put points on the board at just the right time.
They have taken 15 points from their last 10 games to open up a three-point cushion to the bottom three.
The Tigers have won four, drawn three and lost three of those 10 fixtures, and their away form has been vital this season as they have recorded seven of their 11 league wins away from the MKM Stadium.
Who’s the gaffer?
Ruben Selles. The Spaniard joined the Tigers just before the halfway point of the season, having been announced as Tim Walter’s successor on December 6.
Selles ended his playing career at a young age to purse a career in coaching, and he had achieved his Uefa ‘Pro’ Licence by the age of 25.
Born in Valencia, he started coaching the youth team at Parreta before moving to Valencia University, where he led them to promotion to the top-flight of regional competition.
He travelled nomadically in the years that followed, holding different roles with Aris Thessaloniki, Villarreal youth, Shinnik Yaroslavl, Asteras Tripolis, Gandia, Neftci, Stromgodset, Qarabag and Aarhaus.
He briefly returned to his hometown to work in the Valencia youth set-up, before again heading to Denmark to be assistant manager at Copenhagen.
From there, in 2022, he made the move to English football to be Ralph Hassenhuttl’s assistant at Southampton.
When the German, and then Nathan Jones, were dismissed from the top job he was handed the task of taking the reins but could not prevent Saints suffering relegation.
A switch to financially-stricken Reading followed and, amidst off-field turbulence and with a young squad, he managed to guide them to League One safety with something to spare.
He remained with the Royals at the start of this season, but has stepped up to the Championship after the Tigers came calling.
Who’s the captain?
Lewie Coyle. The Hull-born defender took the captain’s armband for the 2022-23 season following the departure of Richie Smallwood to Bradford.
Coyle, 29, has been a regular at the back for the Tigers since his arrival at the MKM Stadium from Fleetwood Town back in 2020, since appearing in nearly 190 games and scoring four goals.
The former Leeds trainee's versatility has seen him play on either side of the Tigers’ defence, and earlier in his career he was linked with the likes of Chelsea and Barcelona.
Who are the key men?
Amid challenging circumstances, defender Charlie Hughes has been among those to earn with credit for the visitors.
Hughes, who spent time in the Manchester City and Liverpool academies as a youngster, is in his second season at Championship level having joined from Wigan Athletic during the summer.
He first joined the Latics in 2017 and signed his first professional contract in 2021 and made his debut in January 2022.
Wigan were promoted at the end of that season, and Hughes would make 20 appearances in the second tier the following season.
He became a regular starter last season, and his leadership skills saw him captain the side at the age of just 19, and he has performed well in a struggling team since coming into the starting XI. Strong in the air and confident in possession, he has a bright future ahead of him.
Italy international Joao Pedro is Hull’s top scorer with six goals to his name this season, and they will hope that – having joined late in September – his track record and experience can help fire them away from trouble over the closing stages of the campaign.
The Brazil-born 33-year-old first emerged at Athletic Mineiro, and has since gone on to have spells with Plaermo, Vitoria Guimaraes, Penarol Santos, Estoril, Cagliari, Fenerbahce and Gremio before his switch to Humberside.
His most notable success came with Cagliari who helped secure promotion to Serie A in 2016, and for whom he netted 84 goals in 255 league outings.
Pedro’s sole international cap came when Italy were stunned by North Macedonia in a play-off and failed to reach the 2022 World Cup.
Combative midfielder Regan Slater has been a near ever-present for the Tigers this term.
The 25-year-old is in his third full season with the Tigers, having joined from Sheffield United in January of 2022.
A Blades academy product, Slater had loan spells with Carlisle United, Scunthorpe United and the Tigers before making his move permanent.
During his loan spell he helped Hull secure promotion back to the Championship from League One, and he went on to be the club’s player of the season after an outstanding 2022-23 campaign.