Hull City

Marco Silva resigned as Hull City manager on Thursday after failing to save the Tigers from relegation from the Premier League following his appointment back in January.

Hull made the announcement on their official website, stating that Silva "was offered the opportunity to continue the work he has done in the four-and-a-half months he has been at the KCOM Stadium."

The statement continued: "Although disappointed by Marco's departure, we would once again like to place on record our appreciation of his efforts and those of his support staff. Despite only being in charge for a short period of time, the 39-year-old became a firm fans' favourite and will be forever remembered for his efforts to maintain our Premier League status." 

Despite Hull going down, the Portuguese impressed in his first Premier League job after succeeding Mike Phelan earlier this year.

Silva returned six league wins from his 18 games in charge, but heavy defeats to Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Tottenham Hotspur in the final three games of the term saw the Tigers finish in 18th, six points behind 17th-placed Watford.

The 39-year-old's reputation has arguably only been enhanced in England following spells in charge at Estoril, Sporting CP and Olympiakos.

There had been reports that Silva would now join FC Porto, but talks broke down, per Jack Pitt-Brooke and Ed Malyon of The Independent.

Pitt-Brooke and Malyon added Silva is in the frame to take over at Crystal Palace and Watford, while the Southampton job has also been mooted.

The coaching landscape of the Premier League is changing, as one of its pillars, Arsene Wenger, starts to shake to a greater degree than at any other time in the past two decades.

As Arsenal’s longstanding boss suffers a difficult end to a turbulent season in London, it is ironic that one of the few coaches in the Premier League to have a thorough understanding of the old-fashioned manager's role that Wenger occupies is one whose arrival so infuriated one of the Gunners' more illustrious former players.

Paul Merson's infamous rant ridiculing Marco Silva's coaching credentials and Hull City's decision to employ him seemed unreasonable at the time; now, it attracts repeated reference as a snapshot in time. That's not just to chide Merson for his parochial views but to acknowledge a time when Silva was a left-field choice and a largely unknown quantity. It's easy to laugh at the footage of Merson but harder to admit he simply gave animation to many onlookers' sense of bemusement at Hull's choice.

Silva may not have been a household name, but he certainly wasn't an unknown behind the scenes of many Premier League clubs. His work at Estoril over three spectacular seasons got tongues wagging around the continental circuit, and by the time Silva was leading the club to an unprecedented fourth-place finish in his final campaign at the club, 2013-14, curious English clubs had sent emissaries to take a closer look at the coach's methods.

Estoril, the penultimate stop on the Cais do Sodre to Cascais train line that leads from the centre of Lisbon to the city's satellite beach resorts, is home to Europe's biggest casino so is probably the right place for a big gamble. That is arguably what Silva's appointment at Estoril was. Rather than being part of a grand plan, the recently-retired right-back had just become the club's sporting director in 2011 when, four months into his tenure, Vinicius Eutropio was removed as coach and Silva was called on to replace him.

What Silva lacked in experience, he had in terms of respect. He played for the club for six years and, as a senior figure, had been a calming influence when there was uncertainty behind the scenes after new owner Traffic—a Brazilian sports-event management agency—took the reins. This uncommon path also gave him a strong grasp of how a club is run from top to bottom. So unlike many modern coaches, he will know the challenges that Wenger, the last of the old-style managers, faces.

Since then, he has made his ability speak for him rather than relying on familiarity. His three-year, 40-match unbeaten home league record over spells with four clubs has been frequently—and justifiably—celebrated in recent weeks and carries a soupcon of Jose Mourinho about it, even if it is way short of the Special One's streak without a home defeat, which stretched over 151 games and nine years before coming to a halt in 2011.

There's another big difference between the two sequences beside the length. Mourinho's unbeaten games were spread over periods in charge of FC Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. Silva's started at Estoril and continued at Sporting Clube de Portugal, Olympiakos (where, admittedly, invincibility is expected) and Hull. There is simultaneously a good framework for comparison and no basis for it at all.

To pick the moment when Silva started to break into a greater realm of recognition in Portugal, it's worth going back to the closure of another great home unbeaten run—that of Porto, who had gone five years and four months without defeat at Estadio do Dragao. Then, in February 2014, Silva's Estoril visited.

Evandro, the Brazilian midfielder who was one of Silva's key men on the Lisbon coast before later becoming an early signing for him on his arrival at the KCOM Stadium, won and then scored the penalty that gave his team a 1-0 win.

By then, Portuguese football already knew it had something special on its hands. Silva's rise to that point, in 2014, had already been stratospheric. He took over Estoril when they were in lower mid-table in the second tier in October 2011, but they finished the season as champions. In their first campaign in the top flight, they finished fifth and qualified for Europe. That famous win at the Dragao, on their way to finishing fourth after losing a clutch of key players, underlined exactly what made him unique.

"This Sunday wasn't Marco Silva's greatest achievement," wrote Luis Sobral for Maisfutebol after the game. "His fundamental success was having convinced his players, whoever they are, that it's possible to take on any opponent, anywhere, and to win."

That, in a context where Os Tres Grandes of Porto, Benfica and Sporting are so rarely meaningfully challenged, meant a lot.

The route his career has taken since is not what Silva would have planned, but plenty of merit has been gleaned along the way. Even though Sporting removed him from his post after just one season, it was no real condemnation of his work but more a reflection of his relationship with the club's high-profile president, Bruno de Carvalho, having broken down.

Despite finishing third, Silva's Sporting lost only twice in the Primeira Liga all season (incidentally beating the points total with which Sporting last won the title in 2001/02), won the Taca de Portugal for a first trophy in seven years and came close to reaching the knockout phase of the Champions League in a group that contained Chelsea.

His continuing value was clear, even to De Carvalho. As Observador reported at the time, Silva's €2 million payoff was contingent on the agreement of a clause that prevented him from coaching in Portugal again for the next three seasons. Sporting and their president had no intention of letting him come back to haunt them.

Silva's year at Olympiacos, inevitably ending in a title, was a quick route back into work and saw records fall, as recounted by Record, with 17 straight wins to start the season and only five points dropped in the entire campaign. There was also the memorable Champions League victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Still, his spell at Estoril remains essential in understanding what Silva is about, where he's come from and how he built himself into a Premier League coach of note. His ability to pick up an unpromising situation and make a quick impression has been vital to Hull. Though his experience is greater now, it's clear he has strongly adhered to his early methods, particularly in his work with his players.

"He had a detailed project that he aimed to carry out," said Estoril midfielder Diogo Amado, shortly after Silva's exit for Sporting in an interview with Record. "We knew exactly he wanted. It was never even necessary to explain the tactics because we knew. I always go back to the closeness he has with the players. He doesn't put up barriers between the coach and the players, and we knew we could count on him."

From the recent words of Hull defender Harry Maguire on Football Focus, his current squad feel much the same.

"Marco Silva has already shown that he's capable of building, maintaining and then rebuilding," Sobral wrote after Estoril's win at Porto in 2014. "One of these days, he'll have a new challenge—because he has the quality for it."

Those words appear as relevant as ever today, though Hull will hope they can hold on to the Premier League's coaching revelation of the season for just a little longer.

Hull midfielder David Meyler is a FIFA 17 master, with more than 650 wins under his belt.

But can he conquer the internet? In the video above, we look at Meyler's quest to take Hull City to the top of FIFA 17.

Liverpool will try to end their winless run in the Premier League on Saturday, as the Reds visit Hull City in Week 24.

Manager Jurgen Klopp and his troops have not won in their last four league matches and are quickly falling out of title contention. The Tigers haven't enjoyed a great 2016-17 campaign, although they have started to turn things around of late.

Here's everything you need to know about the upcoming match.

Date: Saturday, February 4

Time: 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET

Venue: KCOM Stadium, Hull

TV Info: Sky Sports 1 (UK), NBC Sports (U.S.)

Live Stream: Sky Go, NBC Live

Team News

As reported by Goal, both Nathaniel Clyne and Jordan Henderson didn't worsen their respective knocks during the 1-1 draw against Chelsea, while Sadio Mane should be ready to start following his return from the Africa Cup of Nations and cameo appearance against the Blues.

Dieumerci Mbokani should be fit to return as well for Hull, but Ahmed Elmohamady remains on AFCON duty. Lazar Markovic is ineligible to play against his parent club.

Possible Hull City XI: Eldin Jakupovic, David Meyler, Andrea Ranocchia, Harry Maguire, Andrew Robertson, Tom Huddlestone, Omar Elabdellaoui, Evandro, Sam Clucas, Josh Tymon, Oumar Niasse

Possible Liverpool XI: Simon Mignolet, James Milner, Dejan Lovren, Joel Matip, Nathaniel Clyne, Georginio Wijnaldum, Jordan Henderson, Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane, Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino

Preview

Here's what Reds manager Jurgen Klopp had to say about his team and the upcoming clash:

🇳🇱 @GWijnaldum
🤒 Injuries
💪 Power of the fans

🎙 The key points from Jürgen Klopp's pre-#HULLIV press conference! pic.twitter.com/QM7e5EdBN7

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) February 2, 2017

Liverpool's last outing—the 1-1 draw against leaders Chelsea on Tuesday—was cause for optimism, something that's sorely needed at Anfield right now. AFCON hit the Reds hard, and in Mane's absence, the team suffered one disappointing result after another.

Entering Week 24, the gap behind Chelsea is 10 points, and the battle for a top-four finish and a UEFA Champions League ticket remains wide open. Beating Hull, who seem prime candidates for relegation, is a must at this point.

That might be easier said than done, however. Under new manager Marco Silva, who took control of the team in January, the Tigers have improved, and they sit four points behind Swansea City and safety in the standings.

Sportswriter Liam Canning has been impressed:

Marco Silva’s doing a great job at Hull and they should, based on those performances, avoid relegation. Hope he gets the credit he deserves.

— Liam Canning (@LiamPaulCanning) February 1, 2017

Eldin Jakupovic is one of the busiest and most underrated goalkeepers in the league, and on-loan Inter Milan defender Andrea Ranocchia could make his first start. Both will likely be busy, as Liverpool will throw all of their attacking power at the hosts.

Expect the likes of Mane and Philippe Coutinho to see much of the ball and give the Tigers fits with their movement. If Klopp's troops keep the pace high, the Reds should win.

Prediction: Hull City 1-3 Liverpool

Liverpool winger Lazar Markovic has joined Hull City on loan for the remainder of the 2016-17 season.

Liverpool's official website confirmed the transaction on Monday. Markovic spent the first part of the campaign with Sporting CP, although his agreement came to a premature end in January, as he made just two league starts for the Portuguese club. 

Prior to his arrival at Anfield from Benfica in 2014, Markovic was rated as one of the hottest prospects in European football.

At the Estadio da Luz, he was a dazzling presence on the flanks who troubled opponents with his pace, trickery and quality with both feet. When Liverpool landed him, it was considered a significant coup.

During his first season at Anfield, the Serb showed some flashes while also displaying a willingness to adapt his game when former boss Brendan Rodgers utilised him as a wing-back. However, Markovic found consistency difficult to come by and was never able to cement his place as a starter.

In 2015-16, Markovic spent the year on loan at Fenerbahce, and although he struggled for game time, he produced some excellent moments, as we can see here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EafYw8dXSB8

He made just 10 starts in the Turkish Super Lig, as a persistent hamstring problem limited his playing time. Subsequently, his development continued to stagnate. 

Portuguese football expert Jan Hagen agreed the Serb was enduring a problematic campaign in Lisbon prior to seeing his stay cut short:

Lazar Markovic has unfortunately had a disappointing stay at Sporting, who're looking to end his loan so he can return to Liverpool. pic.twitter.com/utkvitZH2l

— Jan Freðrik Hagen (@JanFHagen) January 20, 2017

After he returned to Anfield and worked under Reds manager Jurgen Klopp for the first time in the summer, Liverpool decided to move Markovic on loan once again.

Football writer Richard Buxton pointed out that Markovic wasn't the only Merseyside-based player to benefit from a loan move this season, although it's yet to be seen how much the Tigers will benefit:

https://twitter.com/RichardBuxton_/status/823586267472470016

Prior to Markovic's move to Lisbon, Klopp had some positive words to say about the 22-year-old. "I'm not sure where his 100 per cent is, but he's in a good way, and he's a nice lad, good boy, funny, works hard," the German said, per Neil Jones of the Liverpool Echo. "That's the truth."

Markovic needs to do more with the opportunities he's afforded, but since leaving Benfica, he's yet to receive a consistent run of games in his preferred position.

Hull manager Marco Silva will be hopeful of giving the Serb just that at the KCOM Stadium, and the Tigers will be aware that Markovic has plenty of talent.

While there may be no room for him at Anfield at the moment, with some patience, he can make a big impact for his new employers between now and the end of the season.

Hull City midfielder Ryan Mason has been released from the hospital after undergoing surgery for a skull fracture suffered during a Jan. 22 Premier League loss against Chelsea.

Hull noted Mason will "continue his recovery and early stages of rehabilitation at home."

The 25-year-old collided with Gary Cahill during the 2-0 defeat and was taken off the pitch via stretcher. He was taken to the hospital immediately after, where the diagnosis was made, per the club.

Hull announced on Jan. 22 that Mason underwent surgery and was in stable condition.

In an update on Jan. 23, the club also revealed "Ryan has been speaking of the incident" that left him with the injury. "Ryan and his family have also been extremely touched by the overwhelming support they have received and would very much like to thank all of those who have posted such positive comments both on social media and in the press over the last 24 hours," the bulletin continued.

The Mirror's Jacob Murtagh, Darren Lewis and Neil Moxley first reported the news.

Cahill also required treatment but was able to continue and even scored in the contest.

According to Simon Johnson of the Evening Standard, the Chelsea centre-back went to visit the Hull man in the hospital after the contest. Blues skipper John Terry and assistant manager Steve Holland are also said to have joined Cahill at the facility in London's Paddington area.

"The Chelsea trio didn't get to see Mason as he was still in surgery, but they spent time with Mason's parents, who had attended the game at Stamford Bridge," Johnson added.

Plenty of fans and players wished Mason well after the match. So did Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, per the team's official Twitter account:

Conte says everyone at Chelsea hopes to see Ryan Mason back on the pitch soon. #CHEHUL

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) January 22, 2017

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois did the same:

Not our best game, but important 3 points!! I want to wish @RyanMason the very best!! 💙⚪️ #cfc pic.twitter.com/0LV8JWRnCy

— Thibaut Courtois (@thibautcourtois) January 22, 2017

David Meyler replaced the former Tottenham Hotspur star in the match.

Hull City confirmed the appointment of Marco Silva as their new manager on Thursday, quickly acting to replace former boss Mike Phelan.

After days of speculation, the news was announced via the club's Twitter account:

🔶◾️ | We are delighted to announce Marco Silva as our new Head Coach. More details to follow shortly #WelcomeMarco 🇵🇹#BemvindoMarco pic.twitter.com/3LJlaoHvfg

— Hull City (@HullCity) January 5, 2017

This is the 39-year-old Portuguese coach's first job in English football after three successful managerial roles across Portugal and Greece. He faces a difficult task in steering Hull clear of relegation, but the club clearly believe it is an achievable goal.

"He has a great track record, and we feel this is a bold and exciting appointment in our aim to retain the club's Premier League status," said vice-chairman Ehab Allam, as per Hull's official website. "Marco is a young coach who has impressed us with his philosophy and football style."

Phelan guided the side to just 13 points from 20 Premier League matches, and the Tigers are three points away from 17th-placed Crystal Palace. Silva faces an extremely difficult start to life at the club, with matches against Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal on the horizon, as pointed out by Team FA on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/TeamFA/status/816994744886841344

Silva spent three years as manager of Portuguese outfit Estoril—the club with whom he spent most of his playing career—and achieved extraordinary success. After winning the 2011/12 Segunda Liga title, his team finished fifth and fourth in the Primeira Liga in the two subsequent years, their highest league positions since 1948.

Unsurprisingly, Silva's skills were noticed, and he landed the Sporting CP job soon after. However, he only lasted a single season in charge despite the club finishing third and winning the Taca de Portugal, the Portuguese equivalent of the FA Cup. It was the club's first trophy in seven years. 

His latest managerial stint was similarly brief, with Silva having spent just the 2015/16 season at Olympiakos. Not only did they win the league with six matches to spare, but Silva's side also recorded a memorable 3-2 Champions League win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

Silva's managerial record is impressive, making his decision to join Hull extremely risky. Relegation seems a certainty, and the new manager may already be thinking about how to win promotion from the Championship in 2017/18. 

However, he's signed on a short-term contract until the end of the season, which Hull Daily Mail sports reporter James Smailes suggests might be a bad omen:

Excited to see what difference Marco Silva can make. Short term deal doesn't smack of planning for future but doesn't mean he won't stay on

— James Smailes (@James_Smailes) January 5, 2017

Silva is not unlike compatriot Jose Mourinho in his tactical outlook, favouring defensive football and pragmatism over an expansive style. This is precisely the kind of system needed to fight as Premier League underdogs. It fits the identity that former Hull boss Steve Bruce instilled during the 2015/16 promotion-winning season.

Another key aspect of his personality is creating a never-say-die attitude in the dressing room. His teams have always been stubborn, something reflected in Silva's press conferences.

Before a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich in 2015, Silva said, per Stephen Creek of Goal: "I am not afraid of [Pep] Guardiola or Bayern."

The Hull job is surely the most difficult in the Premier League, but Silva—with an exceptional track record and resilient attitude—has as good a chance as any of turning their fortunes around. 

Hull City announced the club had parted ways with head coach Mike Phelan on Tuesday, with the team sitting in last place in the Premier League after Swansea City's 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace. 

Phelan's last match in charge was a 3-1 defeat to West Bromwich Albion on Monday.

The former Manchester United player and assistant manager to Sir Alex Ferguson has watched his team struggle this season after taking over the reins from Steve Bruce.

Craig Hope of the Daily Mail speculated on who will fill Phelan's shoes at the KCOM Stadium:

Gary Rowett was on Hull's shortlist in the summer and I'd fully expect him to be the man they have lined up to replace Mike Phelan.

— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) January 3, 2017

Hull opened this season with two victories but have won just once since. The Tigers have appeared to lack inspiration during much of their campaign this term, and Phelan failed to get the most from his squad.

Resources are tight at the Yorkshire club, and the former Norwich City midfielder was unable to drive his side up the table to avoid a relegation battle.

The threat of dropping into the Championship has clearly been the reason for the manager's untimely departure.

The Football Association has rejected Hull City's proposal to change the club's name to "Hull Tigers," it was revealed on Saturday.

Sky Sports confirmed the Championship outfit would not be permitted to change their name following a long campaign by the club's ownership:

BREAKING: The FA rejects Hull City's proposed name change to Hull Tigers. #SSNHQ

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) July 11, 2015

Club owner Assem Allam has angered a portion of the club's fans with the proposed name change, which he first suggested in 2013 and initially saw turned down last April, per the Press Association (h/t Guardian).

The Football Supporters' Federation marked Saturday's announcement as "a victory for common sense" as they backed the east Yorkshire club in their bid to retain their traditional identity:

Hull City decision a victory for common sense. Great campaign by #HCAFC fans - their voice heard once again, well done all! #NoToHulllTigers

— The FSA (@WeAreTheFSA) July 11, 2015

@Nicks648 Yes - see earlier tweets. He's told us name change rejected 70-30.

— The FSA (@WeAreTheFSA) July 11, 2015

Having now seen the proposal rejected by the FA on two separate occasions, it's unclear as to whether businessman Allam will further pursue his plans for a club rebrand.

One thing for certain is that his supporters appear ready to fight the decision, and a "70-30" split in voting suggests it will be hard to convince the FA into agreeing.