Despite reaching the League Cup semi-final during the 2016-17 season, Hull City were relegated from the Premier League.

The Tigers finished 18th, six points behind Watford who survived and were forced to take their place in the Championship after just one year back in the top division.

Marco Silva was the man in charge when Hull fell through the trap door before departing at the end of the season.

On June 9, 2017, a replacement had been sourced, and a new man was appointed.

That man was former Russia national team boss Leonid Slutsky.

The Russain had been looking to get into the English management circle for a while and was given his chance on Humberside to take over a Tigers side in need of a rebuild after relegation the previous year.

Appointing a man of his stature garnered a positive response from the club’s supporters on confirmation of his arrival.

Having come down from the top-flight Hull were installed as one of the favourites for an immediate return to the elite level.

Slutsky’s time at Hull started off in indifferent fashion winning, losing and drawing each of his first three matches, but wins were the most uncommon at the KCOM.

A run of four defeats in five left Hull in 16th position on seven points, already ten off the then leaders Leeds United.

Two more wins would follow before the Russian coach, and the club agreed on the mutual termination of his contract on December 3, 2017 - just six months after his arrival.

Four wins, seven draws and ten defeats left the Hull hierarchy displeased and wanting a new man to take over.

Slutsky won just 19 per cent of his matches and saw his side notch 34 goals but conceded 39.

The football played was slow and monotonous, and results were not forthcoming, the forced the owner’s hand to make a change before Christmas before such a busy time in the season.

The appointment was one that did not work out, despite the hype upon his arrival which many thought was a smart move to bring in the former Russia man - Nigel Adkins was named as the club’s new boss four days after his departure.