The latest football blog by Myfanwy Garman. Follow here on Twitter @mivviegarman
The 2008-09 season was viewed as Hull City’s best season ever for many of the club’s fans. It was their first campaign in the Premier League and the promotion saw teams such as Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal compete at the KC Stadium.
Five years later and Hull are playing in the Championship. Under the guidance of recently appointed manager Steve Bruce, City will be hoping to emulate the success of being promoted.
In this article, I have decided to take a look at those who helped the Tigers enjoy a two year spell in the Premier League…
Phil Brown
After leading his Hull City side out of a relegation battle in the 2006-07 season, Phil Brown reenergised the Tigers and led them to promotion to the Premiership in his first full season in charge. The ex-Derby County manager oversaw City’s remarkable start to life in the top-flight.
The Tigers only lost once in their opening nine games and Phil Brown’s name was chanted by fans at every match.
However, the pressure as life as a Premier League boss started to tell and several incidents, including spats with Arsene Wenger, Joe Kinnear and Cesc Fabregas led to Brown’s reputation being dented beyond repair. Bad results saw Brown makes rash and regrettable decisions, none more so than making an exhibition of his side in their 5-1 loss to Manchester City by conducting the half time team-talk on the pitch, in front of the crowd. After Hull fell into the relegation zone, Brown was sacked and replaced by Iain Dowie.
Since his dismissal from City, Brown has managed Preston North End but after the club’s relegation he left for a new challenge.
Jozy Altidore
Jozy Altidore signed for Hull City on a season-long loan from Spanish club Villarreal at the start of the Tigers’ second season in the Premier League.
The American was only 20 when he came to Hull but he had already spent time playing in the MLS and La Liga, so expectations were high when he arrived at the KC Stadium. As part of the loan agreement, Hull were given the chance to sign Altidore on a permanent deal at the end of the 2009-10 season, however after failing to make a decisive impact and after the club were relegated, the acquisition did not take place.
Jozy Altidore stayed with Villarreal until the 2010-11 January transfer window. At this stage of his career, he was loaned to Turkish side Bursaspor for six months. Again, Altidore didn’t really live up to his potential, scoring just one goal in 12 appearances for Bursaspor.
Nowadays, it seems Altidore is far more settled as he has found his feet at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar. The striker scored on his debut for the Eredivisie club at the start of the 2011-12 season, and since then the American international has scored 47 goals in 60 appearances.
Geovanni
Geovanni signed for the Tigers in 2008 and spent two seasons with City before they were relegated in 2010. He was a hero during his spell at the club and the fans loved him.
He scored wonder goals for City, including a screamer against Arsenal in Hull’s 2-1 victory over the London side. Geovanni scored City’s first ever goal in the Premiership and finished as their top-scorer for the 2008-09 season.
The former-Manchester City player, who could play as an attacking midfielder or a winger, was very experienced when he arrived at Hull, having previously played in Brazil, Spain and Portugal before arriving in England.
After leaving Hull City for pastures new, the Brazilian found himself playing in the MLS with San Jose Earthquakes, however this did not last long and, after just one season with the Quakes, Geovanni moved back to his home country, signing for Brazil’s Vitoria. At Vitoria, he made 36 appearances before moving elsewhere.
Nowadays, the 32-year-old is representing América Futebol Clube (MG), a Brazilian team which are competing in Brazil’s second division.