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Marco Silva departs Fulham hotseat after five years amid Benfica links

Marco Silva
Marco Silva's five-year tenure at Craven Cottage made him the third longest serving boss in the Premier League

Marco Silva is leaving Fulham after five years as head coach.

The 48-year-old, who is departing Craven Cottage "this summer", has not revealed his next destination, but Silva has been heavily linked with Portuguese giants Benfica.

His five-year tenure had made Silva the third longest serving boss in the Premier League, and fifth longest in the top four divisions.

In an open letter to Fulham supporters, Silva said: "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.

"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."

In a statement, Fulham owner Shahid Khan said the club will 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."

Silva guided the Cottagers to their first league title in 21 years when they won the Championship in 2021-22, his first season, to seal promotion back to the Premier League, then secured a top-half finish in the following campaign.

Silva also steered Fulham to their record Premier League points tally, 54 in 2025, as well as four quarter-finals across domestic cup competitions, taking them all the way to the Carabao Cup semi-finals in 2024.

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."

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