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Hull owner Illicali not just full of Eastern promise, he’s on a mission Acun: I have big dreams, I want us to play in the Prem... and Europe
MEET Hull City owner Acun Ilicali, the captivating Turkish media magnate who has shaken up the Championship.
At just 24, he was clinically depressed and barely had a penny to his name after the devastating loss of both parents in a tragic road accident.
But, after battling back from the depths of unimaginable despair, the resilient TV tycoon is sure that promotion to the Premier League with Hull is not where his remarkable rags-toriches story ends.
“If we go to the Premier League, it will only be half of my dream,” said Ilicali.
“Why can’t we be another Leicester? My dream is not completed with promotion, all I want is to see my team play in European competitions.”
Ilicali, who completed his £30million takeover of the Tigers in January 2022, loves English football – and his rejuvenated side sit just three points outside the play-offs.
But, away from the club he adores, he is also a relentless businessman, entrepreneur, TV personality and, crucially, the integral driving force behind one of the world’s top-three media production companies, Acun Medya.
The 54-year-old multimillionaire is even the presenter of Turkey’s equivalent of The Voice, though it’s clear he is no showman.
Ilicali (below) has built his glittering reputation via relationships and fulfilling promises – qualities that have allowed Hull supporters to dream again.
He added: “If you believe in the words magic and destiny, that’s why I bought Hull City.
“I had five different opportunities when I decided to buy a club and, by some chance, I started looking at
Hull.
“When spent some time in the city, I saw beautiful
I people around me and I saw this huge bridge [Humber Bridge] that looks like the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul. “I’ve always liked places near the seaside in my life because Miami is my favourite place in the world and then, when I was in the stadium, this felt like the place I should be.” His unique connection with Hull fans is an important ingredient behind his quest for success and it stems from his humble beginnings.
The Tigers chief said: “I’m going to every home game even if I’m in the Dominican Republic, which is an eighthour flight from Turkey.
“I don’t think there are more crazy owners than me around, but I try to give as much energy as I can to the players and the coach.
“I can say that it’s God’s gift to me that I have good connections with people, it’s why I went from zero to hero in Turkey.
“I had no money and saw the bottom of life and now I’ve experienced both hard and good circumstances.
“All the fan base wants to feel is they’re one part of one family. Without fans, football is nothing.”
Hull were 21st in the table when Liam Rosenior arrived amid conversations with “important coaches from Europe”.
But he has repaid Ilicali’s faith, according to the Turk, who said: “I see the players giving everything and that comes from one man – Liam, who’s always made us proud.”
Ilicali’s methodical approach to business is reflected in Hull’s recent transfer dealings, following the eye-catching acquisitions of Fabio Carvalho, Tyler Morton, Liam Delap, Jaden Philogene and Abdulkadir Omur, once the subject of a £20m bid from Manchester City.
“We can be very sure that all the transfers we make are working now,” added Ilicali.
“There are £20m-plus players in the squad that belong to us and I believe it will help lead to better positioning in the future.
“The nose of the plane should be up, so we can go higher and higher. You can call our project Mission Improvement.”