Meet the opposition | Hull City
As Swansea City prepare to face Hull City at the MKM Stadium, 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.
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?
Up and down. The Tigers are firmly in the play-off hunt and currently occupy the last of the top-six spots with 45 points.
However, they have been inconsistent, winning their last two games having lost five of the previous nine in all competitions.
This has also been the case at home, where they have lost three of their last six league fixtures.
Who's the gaffer?
Liam Rosenior. The former defender has been in charge of the Tigers since last November, having succeeded Shota Arveladze in the MKM Stadium hotseat.
The 39-year-old had previously been in interim charge of Derby County following Wayne Rooney’s departure, but left the club when Paul Warne was appointed in September 2022.
An England Under-21 international as a player, Rosenior was a product of the youth system at Bristol City before moving on to Premier League Fulham in 2003.
Spells at Reading and a loan a Ipswich followed before his five-year stint with Hull, during which time he helped them win promotion to the Premier League and then reach the FA Cup final in 2014, where they lost to Arsenal.
Rosenior hung up his boots in 2018 following a three-year spell with Brighton, having also helped them reach the top-flight.
He began his coaching career in the academy at the south coast club before making the switch to Derby.
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, 28, 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 over 100 games and scoring three 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?
Forwards Aaron Connolly and Liam Delap have netted 15 goals between them so far this season.
Manchester City youngster Delap is having his third loan spell in the Championship, having previously been with Stoke and Preston.
The son of former Stoke, Southampton and Republic of Ireland international Rory, the younger Delap was on the books at Derby for a decade before making the move to the Etihad Stadium.
He has made six senior appearances for the Citizens, while he has seven goals in 27 Championship appearances this term.
Connolly, who has recently been sidelined with a shoulder injury, also joined in the summer, arriving from Brighton.
The Republic of Ireland international spent six years on the south coast, having loan spells with Luton, Middlesbrough, Venezia and Hull before making his permanent move.
Versatile Turkish midfielder Ozan Tufan was a new face for the Tigers last season and enjoyed a productive first campaign in East Yorkshire.
He contributed eight goals last term, including a brace in a dramatic draw against Sunderland, and he has picked up where he left off this time around with seven goals.
Tufan’s career experience had predominantly been garnered in his homeland, where he featured for Bursaspor and Fenerbahçe.
He had spells on loan with Alanyaspor and Watford, before moving to Hull for an undisclosed fee in the summer.
He has scored nine goals in 65 caps for his country.
Jaden Philogene joined the Tigers for an undisclosed fee over the summer and has seven goals and five assists to his name following an impressive start to life at the MKM Stadium.
No Hull player has more goal involvements than Philogene this season.
The Aston Villa product - who joined the club from the Pro:Direct Academy made six senior appearances for the Villans across his five years with the club.
He had loan spells with Stoke City and Cardiff City, scoring five goals for the latter last term.