Why Tan Kesler Chose to Leave Hull City for a New Chapter in Poland
Tan Kesler, the former vice-chairman of Hull City, has opened up about the reasons behind his decision to step away from the club and embrace a fresh challenge in Poland with Pogon Szczecin.
Kesler, son of former Turkey international Sevket Kesler, has built a diverse career in football, previously working as a player agent and holding a role within the Turkish Football Federation. He became one of the leading figures at Hull City following the club’s takeover by Turkish media entrepreneur Acun Ilicali in 2022. However, his time at the Championship side came to an end in October 2024, when he departed by mutual agreement.
His exit followed a turbulent period for the club. Hull narrowly missed out on a play-off place, finishing the season in frustrating fashion under head coach Liam Rosenior, who subsequently left his position. According to Kesler, that managerial departure marked a turning point.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Kesler explained that his decision to leave had been carefully considered rather than impulsive. After Rosenior’s exit, the demands of restructuring the club proved exhausting. At the same time, Kesler was navigating major changes in his personal life — his son had been born in Hull, and he was striving to balance his professional responsibilities with being a present father and supportive husband. The mounting pressure ultimately led him to conclude that he needed time away from the intense environment of English football.
Although several other Championship clubs expressed interest in his services, Kesler has indicated that he hopes to one day return to what he regards as his “second home” in England.
For now, however, he has taken on a new opportunity in the Ekstraklasa, Poland’s top tier, joining Pogon Szczecin under the ownership of his friend Alex Haditaghi.
When Kesler became involved, Pogon were facing severe financial instability and were reportedly only days away from losing their licence and entering administration. Initially assisting with due diligence without committing to a formal role, Kesler soon found himself drawn in by the club’s atmosphere, the passion of its supporters, and consistent crowds of around 22,000 fans filling the stadium.
At Pogon, Kesler is applying a football philosophy similar to the one he championed at Hull: an emphasis on attractive, progressive play combined with a clear player-development model. The aim is to nurture at least one standout talent per season and generate sustainable revenue through strategic sales.
He highlighted the recent transfer of promising youngster Adrian Przyborek to Lazio as an example of that model in action. Przyborek had struggled for playing time before the current regime arrived, but under the new philosophy he flourished, eventually securing a move worth €4.5 million upfront, with the overall deal potentially rising to €7 million, including a significant sell-on clause.
Kesler believes more emerging talents are progressing through the system, and while the club continues to develop and trade players, the ambition remains competitive — to consistently challenge for a place in the league’s top five.
In short, Kesler’s departure from Hull was shaped by both professional strain and personal priorities. His move to Poland represents not only a fresh start, but also an opportunity to rebuild a club, implement a clear footballing vision, and pursue long-term growth in a new footballing landscape.
