Hull City Appoints Ruben Selles as New Head Coach

Championship strugglers Hull City have appointed Ruben Selles, formerly Reading’s manager, as their new head coach on a two-and-a-half-year deal. Selles achieved 34 wins in his 78 matches overseeing Reading across all competitions. The 41-year-old Spaniard takes over from Tim Walter, whom the Tigers dismissed last week after a sequence of nine games without a victory. Selles departs the Royals, who are currently in sixth place in League One, even as the club – which has since appointed Noel Hunt as manager – faces an uncertain future because of off-field issues. His new team is positioned 22nd in the Championship, having secured only three wins from 18 league games. Caretaker manager Andy Dawson will continue to lead the team for Saturday’s home fixture against Blackburn Rovers. Selles is set to oversee his first match when they host Watford next Wednesday. “I am really happy. When the possibility to come here became real, my eyes were on Hull City,” the Spaniard stated on the club website. “I know the team, the club, the history and I’m looking forward to starting my journey with the team. I saw a lot of similarities with where we are as technical staff and what we want to do for the present and the future, and that’s why I decided to come. From now, we go all in, all together, every single time, 100%. There is no tomorrow; every day is important, every action is important. We’re going to fight for every inch together.” Last season, the Tigers finished seventh under Liam Rosenior, but owner Acun Ilicali made the unexpected decision to dismiss the former Hull City defender during the summer. Walter, who had prior experience managing Hamburg in the German second tier, was appointed as Rosenior’s replacement but encountered difficulties from the beginning. The 49-year-old was ultimately sacked last week following a 2-0 home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday. This occurred less than 24 hours after Ilicali had stated he would not change managers even if they lost the match. Selles has coached in several countries, including Cyprus, Russia, and Azerbaijan. He took charge at Reading in the summer of 2023, following their relegation to League One. He led them to a 17th-placed finish last season, despite a six-point deduction for financial issues and a transfer embargo. This campaign, they have achieved an excellent start, securing nine wins from their initial 18 games. Ilicali stated that Selles was their “number one target” and that the former Southampton boss “stood out for his football philosophy, ability to develop players, attention to detail, and extensive coaching experience.” According to Tim Dellor, BBC Radio Berkshire’s Reading commentator, Ruben Selles, described as likeable, calm, and well-organised, had his character thoroughly tested at Reading. Dellor commented that a less resilient individual managing the Royals over the past 18 months would likely have reacted with frustration, but Selles handled all the difficulties presented by the owner and chief executive with composure. Selles also patiently and courteously addressed media questions regarding the perplexing situation on a weekly basis, even when others should have been more accountable. Dellor added that Selles is as qualified to serve in the cabinet at Westminster as he is to be a Championship football manager. Dellor noted that Selles’ tactics were initially flawed during his first few months, as he employed a highly ineffective 4-2-2-2 formation. He suggested that, in different circumstances, a manager who was winless in nine games and at the bottom of the League One table would have seen their tenure at Reading conclude after three months. Nevertheless, a shift in tactics and player selection, combined with a remarkable improvement in results driven by young players, contributed to Selles becoming one of Reading’s most popular managers ever. Ultimately, Dellor concluded that Selles’ fundamental human quality of being a genuinely likeable man was his most significant attribute, which greatly contributed to his effectiveness during his 18 months at Reading. Further details are expected.