Hull City appoint Marco Silva as new manager
Hull City have confirmed Marco Silva as their new head coach until the end of the season.
The Portuguese coach – a friend of Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho – becomes Hull’s third manager since they won promotion to the Premier League in May. Mike Phelan was sacked by the club on Tuesday.
Silva, who has previously coached at Olympiakos and Sporting Lisbon, takes over with Hull bottom of the Premier League table.
The 39-year-old has been referred to in his native Portugal as “the new Mourinho” and arrives with a reputation as an entertaining, attacking coach.
Tigers vice-chairman Ehab Allam said: “Marco is a young coach who has impressed us with his philosophy and football style.
“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. Marco will be bringing in his own back-room team who have all played their part in his recent success.
“We are already working hard with Marco and his team to deliver some key additions to our squad during this transfer window.”
Silva will be joined at the club by assistant head coach Joao Pedro Sousa, first team coach Goncalo Pedro and goalkeeping coach Hugo Oliveira.
Silva played professionally in Portugal as a full-back but made only two top-flight appearances during his career.
He was appointed director of football at Estoril immediately after retiring in 2011 before becoming coach of Sporting in the summer of 2014.
The club won the Portuguese Cup and finished third in the league but he was sacked within days of winning the cup, reportedly for not wearing an official club suit during a match in an earlier round.
Just over a month later he took over at Greek giants Olympiakos and led them to a 43rd national title – as well as a memorable Champions League win over Arsenal – before quitting at the end of the 2015-16 season, citing personal reasons.
Mourinho described Silva as a “kid friend of mine” in November 2015 and expressed his hope that Silva’s Olympiakos would progress in the Champions League at the expense of the Gunners.
Silva’s first match will be the FA Cup third round clash with Swansea this weekend, followed by the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final against Manchester United on Tuesday.
