The Tigers return to the Premier League for the first time since 2017.
Ilicali, the Turkish media mogul who took over the club in January 2022, was emotional at full time as Oli McBurnie's 95th-minute header sealed promotion. He spoke to Sky Sports immediately after the final whistle.
"This is the best day of my life for sure. Because in my career I managed many successes starting from zero in my business. But football is a crazy thing. You can enjoy every moment in every profession. But the enjoyment of football, the goal going inside, you win it — this is different for the psychology."
He described his experience of the closing minutes.
"This is the video of my life. This is my family, my daughters, my brother, my wife. We waited so much time. Last five minutes I couldn't move because I wouldn't be able to handle a last-minute goal."
Hodge, speaking to BBC Radio Humberside, was equally animated. The 52-year veteran of the game described the result as the greatest achievement of his career — and acknowledged how dramatically the outlook had changed in the space of twelve months.
"We put a squad together just to try and get out of this league. The lads have been absolutely brilliant, and the manager has been a breath of fresh air. This is my 52nd year and I've been all over the world with Wales, I've been with big clubs.
"But this is the biggest achievement for me. I sat at Portsmouth last year, and I thought, 'what have I joined?' So in the space of a year, I think that's the biggest credit — to those lads in the management and our staff. All the hours they put into this, and to everybody in that dressing room, absolutely magnificent."
The promotion is the club's third to the Premier League in their history. Head coach Sergej Jakirovic guided them there from sixth place, the lowest possible starting position in the play-offs.