"I just worry" - Acun Ilicali backed to appoint Nuri Sahin at Hull City but concern raised | OneFootball

Tigers fan says Şahin has the potential to excite Hull but warns success depends on owner giving him time to adapt and build in the Championship.

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘Terrace Talk‘ series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Hull City are on the hunt for a new manager once again following the departure of Ruben Selles, and an intriguing name has emerged as the current favourite with the bookmakers.

Nuri Şahin, a former Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid and Liverpool midfielder, is topping the bookmakers' odds to take over at the MKM Stadium, with his close links to club owner Acun Ilicali seen as a potential factor in the Tigers' decision-making process.

Nuri Sahin to Hull City: The latest on the managerial candidate

Şahin is currently out of work after leaving Borussia Dortmund earlier this year.

The 35-year-old was brought to the Bundesliga side as part of Edin Terzić’s backroom staff in the summer of 2023, having previously managed Antalyaspor in his native Turkey with a respectable record.

After starting his coaching career at Antalyaspor, where he moved from player to head coach in 2021, Şahin impressed enough to be handed a role at Champions League regulars Dortmund, although his time there was short-lived, as he and the club parted ways in January 2024 after an under-par run of form, with the Black-yellows losing four in a row after the winter break.

Nuri Şahin's final four matches in charge of Borussia Dortmund

Despite the relative inexperience, Şahin's pedigree as a player and his rapid coaching rise have caught the eye, especially given his relationship with Turkish football and Ilicali’s ownership of Hull.

And when asked about the possibility of Şahin being appointed, FLW’s Hull City fan pundit Cameron was cautiously optimistic about the idea, but stressed that patience would be key.

Hull City fan wants time and trust if Nuri Şahin takes the reins

“It’s certainly an interesting one, and it really depends on whether the owner will give him enough time,” Cameron told FLW.

“Because clearly, there is something there for him to be a player at Antalyaspor, then become the manager there and go on to manage Borussia Dortmund, a Champions League team. There has got to be something good there.”

Cameron acknowledged that Şahin's inexperience with English football is a concern, but believes fans would still get behind the move: “I just worry that Acun might not give him the time. I mean, we’ve had two young managers recently in Rosenior and Selles, so Şahin is going to be another young manager. Is he going to be someone who has enough time to implement his style, and also to learn the Championship?”

“He’s never played in the Championship or coached here. Yes, he played briefly for Liverpool in the Premier League, but that doesn’t automatically make you a great coach or a great manager.”

That said, Şahin's profile would generate excitement: “I do think then, it is something the fans will get behind because his ability as a player is there for everyone to see. He has played at the highest level, and Dortmund and Antalyaspor have clearly seen something in him; It’s just whether we can get the best out of him.”

Cameron also crunched the numbers: “His record, his points per game, is about 1.5 both in Turkey and Germany, so in a 46-match season, he would get about 69 points based on that. This year, that gets you fifth or sixth in the Championship.”

“Obviously, it’s not a guarantee he’d keep that record, but I would be excited. I would definitely back him. If the owners have interviewed four or five candidates, and they choose Şahin, then he must be the best one, and I do think the supporters would get behind it.”

Cameron's final words were a call for trust and stability: “It is just all about whether the owners give him time. If we get off to a slow start, and we aren’t in the top half at Christmas, how are the owners going to react then?”

Nuri Şahin has credentials, but Hull City must commit if he's the choice

With Şahin still regarded as one of Europe’s bright young coaches, the move could be a bold but calculated risk for Hull City to take.

His appointment would represent another shift toward youthful energy and long-term planning, but it’s clear that success won’t happen overnight.

If Acun Ilicali wants to build something sustainable, then patience and perspective may be more important than past Championship experience.