Players Cried with Joy, He Refused Vegas. Hull City Promoted to Premier League by Former Trnava Player

Hull last played in the Premier League in the 2016/17 season, finishing 18th and dropping back to the Championship after just one year. This season, they secured 6th place in the second tier, clinching a playoff spot with a final-day 2-1 victory over Norwich. They then eliminated third-placed Millwall in the semi-finals (0-0, 2-0).

Originally, Hull was set to face Southampton in the final. However, the league's governing body disqualified the South Coast club from the playoffs due to multiple rule violations, including unauthorized filming of other clubs' training sessions. Middlesbrough reported Southampton's scouting activities to the EFL, with the incident occurring on May 7th, two days before the first semi-final.

That first leg ended in a goalless draw, with the home side, "The Saints," winning the return leg 2-1 after extra time. In addition to their disqualification, Southampton was also penalized with a four-point deduction in the 2026/27 Championship season.

Consequently, Hull ultimately faced Middlesbrough. Despite not being the superior side in the final, they managed to secure promotion. It was a hard-fought match, lacking significant attacking flair. Both teams showed more intent towards the end of the first half, with Middlesbrough being saved by the crossbar after a McBurnie header.

Just before halftime, Strelec also had a shot from outside the box, but his left-footed effort went wide. The Slovakian forward played 70 minutes, registering four shots, but failed to find the net. The decisive moment came from a goalkeeping error by Solomon Bryn, who fumbled a cross, allowing McBurnie to tap the ball into the net.

"When Oli scored, I thought, 'I'm dreaming, and this is a movie.' I'm very emotional. Many players were crying with happiness. It's an incredible journey. I don't think we fully realize everything we've achieved today. We've had so many problems.

I'm very proud of everyone, especially the players; they are the main protagonists," stated Hull's Bosnian coach, Sergej Jakirovič, to the BBC. During his playing career, Jakirovič spent one season in Slovakia, featuring as a center-back for Spartak Trnava in the 1998/99 season.

Hull City spent five seasons in the Championship after returning from League One, the third tier. Last year, they narrowly avoided relegation, finishing 21st and staying up on goal difference ahead of Luton Town. Now, however, they celebrate promotion to one of the world's best leagues, along with a significant financial boost.

The Championship playoff final is considered the most valuable match in world football. According to an analysis by Deloitte's Sports Business Group, it will bring Hull at least £205 million in revenue over the next three seasons.

Club owner Acun Ilicali, therefore, provided additional motivation to the players before the final, promising them a trip to Las Vegas if they succeeded. However, Jakirovič has no plans to visit "Sin City": "This trip is mainly for the players. I will be with my family in Croatia. We have a beautiful coastline there. But they will go to Vegas, and you know, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. That's not for me."

Great disappointment reigned in Middlesbrough, partly because their players failed to capitalize on three promotion opportunities this season. The first came in the regular season, as they fought for direct promotion from the top two spots until the final round. The second was in the playoffs, from which they were eliminated by Southampton, and the third came after "The Saints" were disqualified. Boro now faces a wait to return to the elite, having been out since the 2016/17 season.

"It's been two heartbreaking defeats in two weeks, which is very, very tough," said a dejected coach Kim Hellberg after the match. Hellberg joined the team in November after Rob Edwards' departure to Wolverhampton. Middlesbrough had spent 35 of 46 rounds in the top two spots but won only two of their last ten games, slipping out of the automatic promotion places.

"It was emotionally draining, so when the game ended today, I felt very, very empty. Disappointed, sad, emotionally helpless. All the things you put into the season and into training. It's a very difficult moment, a sad moment.

I wish I could have performed better during this period; that's always my aim. I wish I had found better solutions when we weren't scoring those goals. It's my responsibility, and after the break, I need to try and develop to help the players score and create," he was quoted by the BBC.

Since his arrival from Slovan Bratislava in September, the 25-year-old Strelec has played 35 matches for Boro, scoring eight goals and providing one assist.