Next Fulham manager: Arne Slot and Thomas Frank among contenders with appointment expected imminently

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Evening Standard

·2 June 2026

Next Fulham manager: Arne Slot and Thomas Frank among contenders with appointment expected imminently

Fulham owner has revealed an appointment is expected soon

Fulham are on the search for a new manager after confirming the imminent departure of Marco Silva.

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Silva was appointed as Fulham head coach in July 2021 and secured promotion back to the Premier League in his debut season before stabilising the side in the top-flight.

Despite recording the highest Premier League points tally in Fulham’s history during the 2024-25 season, Silva was unable to secure the club’s first major trophy.

Amid talk of a return to Portugal to replace Jose Mourinho as Benfica head coach, an official statement regarding a summer exit reads: “The club can confirm that Marco Silva will leave his role as Head Coach at Fulham this summer.

“It’s a position that Silva has held for five years – which had made him the third longest serving boss in the Premier League, and fifth longest in the Football League – a spell which was laden with success.”

Fulham owner Shahid Khan added: “Marco Silva leaves our Club with my gratitude and best wishes. Fulham and Marco were an excellent fit for five seasons, but change is inevitable in this game, and we’ve accordingly prepared for this moment.

“The talent in our squad, our historic home ground of Craven Cottage, our faithful supporters, and my commitment to backing the Club, all make Fulham an extraordinarily attractive destination for an incoming head coach.

“We will soon appoint a new leader in a timely but deliberate manner, who will meet the standards of our Club and expectations of our fans throughout the world.”

Exit: Marco Silva

PA

As things stand, Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna is favourite, ahead of current former Tottenham and Brentford boss Thomas Frank, who has been a free agent since leaving north London in February.

Frank Lampard, Jose Bordalas and Kjetil Knutsen are the other names in the frame to replace Silva at Craven Cottage before the start of the new Premier League season.

Meanwhile, Arne Slot - sacked by Liverpool at the weekend - has also been tipped to by bookmakers to become the next Fulham manager, along with former player Liam Rosenior, who has been out of work since leaving Chelsea in April.