Fulham announce Marco Silva’s departure after five years | OneFootball

Fulham have officially announced the departure of Marco Silva after five years with the Portuguese manager likely to join Benfica.

In a statement, the English club thanked the coach for his contribution and said he will always be welcome back at the club’s facilities where he worked between 2021 and 2026.

“A fiercely passionate and relentlessly hard-working individual, Silva’s impact on the landscape of Fulham will not be forgotten, and he is welcome back at the Cottage as our guest anytime,” the club said in a statement released this afternoon.

The 48-year-old coach arrived in England in 2016/17 via Hull City. He then went on to manage Watford and Everton before signing for Fulham in 2021/22. In total, he led the team on 229 occasions with a record of 100 wins, 48 draws and 81 defeats in all competitions, including winning the Championship in his first season.

"To our fans – I asked you, from day one, to always be with us. And that’s what you did these past five years. We achieved a lot together," Silva said about his decision to leave the club.

"My staff and I always felt your support. It will never be forgotten. Fulham will always be in my heart, and sooner or later I will be back at Craven Cottage."