Silva more used to striking gold than staying up

MARCO SILVA’S Portuguese background made comparisons with Jose Mourinho natural, but the Hull boss possesses a statistical record to rival that of today’s managerial adversary Antonio Conte.

Hull have tasked one of the continent’s most successful young coaches to save them from Premier League relegation.

And since the start of the 2014-15 season, Silva has averaged an astonishing 2.52 points from 65 league games. Conte’s points-per-game ratio is 2.57 over 65, going back to his spell with Juventus.

Silva, 39, admits a survival fight is an alien experience, having challenged at the top of the Portuguese and Greek leagues in his last two jobs, but he insists he is adaptable enough to cope.

‘Sometimes you play to be champions, sometimes you play to put your team in Europe, at other times you play to remain in the Premier League,’ he said. ‘Always the life of the coach is a risk. For me, this situation is different but I am ready to do this job.’

His appointment as Mike Phelan’s successor just over a fortnight ago happened quickly. Yet the journey to the Premier League was a long time in the planning. He began learning English three years ago, during his final season at Estoril, the unfashionable Portuguese club he took to the Second Division title and two Europa League campaigns.

In his one season with Sporting, he delivered the Portuguese cup — the club’s first piece of silverware for six years. Olympiacos won 28 of 30 league matches on their way to the Greek title last season and then he quit in pre-season. ‘When I worked at Olympiacos, I was already thinking ng of the next step and for me the Premier League ue is the biggest: the biggestggest teams and the biggest managers,’ Silvava said.

‘But I am not t only here for the Premierer League. It’s not a dream, m, it’s a challenge. The e target is that Hull stay up.’

Silva doesn’t stay anywhere long, g, and it is hard to envisage ge him at the KCOM Stadium adium beyond his six-month -month deal. He is unlikely ikely to want to managege in the Championship, , while if he does beatt the odds to stay upp it will only make e him more attractive ve to other clubs.