‘Bullish’ Tim Walter needs to make an immediate impression at Hull City as Acun Ilicali has put his faith and money to the test

It's the worst-kept secret at Hull City in a long time: Tim Walter has finally been confirmed as the club's new head coach, replacing Liam Rosenior.

Walter has spent a lot of time in talks with City owner Acun Ilicali in recent weeks, but had to wait to officially take over due to the conditions of his departure from Hamburg in February.

The 48-year-old German has extensive management experience in Germany, having coached under Pep Guardiola in Bayern Munich's academy before taking charge of Holstein Kiel, Stuttgart and then notorious underachievers Hamburg, a club with huge expectations and even bigger crowds.

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For Walter, this is the first time he has worked as a manager outside of Germany. And it is an opportunity he has longed for: the chance to follow in the footsteps of his compatriots Jürgen Klopp, David Wagner, Daniel Farke and Danny Rohl of recent years.

It was his attacking, swashbuckling style of football that alerted Ilicali to his availability, and after his Hamburg team scored a league-high 70 goals in the 2. Bundesliga the season before last, the Turkish owner made Walter his main target and invested considerable time and money to ensure he got him.

For Walter, a confident character and someone optimistic enough to believe in his brand of football, this is a great opportunity to make Ilicalis' dream of promotion come true. However, he will be under pressure and with big expectations, and he will have to get started right away.

Ilicali's brief is pretty simple. He wants winning football and he wants the fans to be entertained. He also expects City to be able to compete and with Rosenior finishing seventh, Walter will be challenged to top that and if he can do that, he will at least end up in the play-offs.

Walter was faced with the challenge of promotion in Hamburg, but he didn't quite manage it. And although there were extenuating circumstances that prevented it from happening, it ultimately didn't work out. The second division giant, former European Cup finalist, remains stuck outside the top flight.

Walter will have to prove himself to City fans, many of whom were disappointed when Rosenior lost his job after missing out on the play-offs by just three points (and goal difference). Rosenior was a hugely popular figure in the stands and it will be difficult to fill the shoes of City's successor. The new manager will be very conscious of the support his predecessor had.

And although Rosenior's style was criticized, his team did deliver some brilliant performances from time to time, especially away from home, but not often enough in front of the regulars at the MKM Stadium.

Championship football is relentless. Two games a week for the majority of the nine-month season is something he is not used to and will have to adapt to. He needs a group of players who will buy into his methods and he also needs to be backed up by new signings of real quality who can make the difference. He will also be hoping Ilicali can fend off interest in Jacob Greaves and Jaden Philogene while raising the level around them.

Walter's appointment is perhaps risky and some would say riskier than that of a manager with experience in the Championship who knows the league. In that respect only time will tell, good managers with good people around them and good teams are able to transfer their skills to any league and he will be no different.

Ultimately, winning football matches is the best way to win over the sceptics. And if you can do that with a bit of style and panache, great. Walter's passionate, aggressive exterior will certainly help him win over his fans quickly. However, he will only be judged on one currency, and that is points.