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Fulham have announced that Marco Silva is leaving after five years as their head coach. The Portuguese is wanted by Benfica, who are poised to lose José Mourinho to Real Madrid.
“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,” Fulham’s owner, Shahid Khan, said.
Fulham finished 11th in Silva’s final two seasons, following a pattern of comfortable mid-table placings after he led the club to promotion in his first campaign. He also took the team to a Carabao Cup semi-final.
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Fulham wanted to keep Silva and offered him a new contract. Joining Benfica would give him the chance to coach in Europe, the club having finished third in Portugal to enter the Europa League qualifiers.
Silva thanked Fulham’s fans for their support and said: “We achieved so much together, and my staff and I will never forget the connection we felt. Fulham will always mean a lot to me.”
Khan said Fulham were an “extraordinarily attractive destination for an incoming head coach” and that a replacement would be appointed “in a timely but deliberate manner”.
