Meet the opposition | Hull City
As Swansea City get set to take on Hull City this weekend, 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 last term.
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?
Steady. Hull have won three, drawn five and lost two of their last 10 Championship fixtures.
That run has included wins over promotion hopefuls West Brom, Millwall and Watford, while they have also taken a point against the likes of Sunderland and Blackburn.
All three of those wins came on home soil at the MKM Stadium.
Who’s the gaffer?
Liam Rosenior. The former defender has been in charge of the Tigers since November, having succeeded Shota Arveladze in the MKM Stadium hotseat.
The 38-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.
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, 27, 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 98 games and scoring two 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?
Versatile Turkish midfielder Ozan Tufan has been a new face for the Tigers this season and has enjoyed a productive first campaign in East Yorkshire.
He has contributed eight goals this season, including a brace in a dramatic draw against Sunderland and the winner last time out against Watford.
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.
Columbia international Óscar Estupiñán has been another to make a positive impression in his first season at the club, scoring 13 goals so far this term, and Hull will hope he can shake off an ankle injury to feature at the weekend.
The former Vitoria Guimaraes forward joined the club in the summer as a free agent on the back of a season which saw him hit the back of the net 15 times in 28 games for the Portuguese top-flight outfit.
Homegrown defender Jacob Greaves was named young player of the year for the second season running last term after a stellar season at the heart of the Tigers backline.
After helping the club to promotion in his breakout season in League One, centre-back Greaves played in every minute of all 46 league games for the Tigers last season, helping his team keep a tally of 15 clean sheets in the process.
He has made 43 appearances this season, scoring four goals.