Marco Silva leaves Fulham after five years as Benfica move nears

By SABC Sport
2nd June 2026

Marco Silva's successful five-year spell at Fulham has come to an end, with the Portuguese coach poised to return to his homeland as Benfica's next head coach.

Fulham confirmed Silva's departure on Monday, ending months of speculation over his future. The 48-year-old is expected to replace Jose Mourinho at Benfica after reaching an agreement on a three-year contract, with an option to extend his stay until 2029.

Silva leaves Craven Cottage having overseen one of the most stable periods in the club's recent history. Appointed in 2021 when Fulham were competing in the Championship, he guided them to promotion at the first attempt, winning the second-tier title and delivering the club's first league championship in 21 years.

He then established Fulham as a consistent Premier League side, recording finishes of 10th, 13th and back-to-back 11th-place positions. This season's total of 54 points represented the club's highest Premier League tally, while they remained in contention for European qualification before fading in the closing weeks of the campaign.

A 2-0 victory over Newcastle United on the final day proved to be Silva's farewell match in charge.

In an open letter to supporters, Silva reflected on his time in west London and thanked fans for their backing throughout his tenure.

"After five years, our journey together comes to an end," he wrote.

"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."

Fulham owner Shahid Khan paid tribute to Silva's contribution, describing the partnership as a successful one while insisting the club is prepared for the next chapter.

"Marco Silva leaves our club with my gratitude and best wishes," Khan said. "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.

"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."

Silva's departure had increasingly appeared inevitable after uncertainty lingered following Fulham's final match of the season. Despite being offered a new three-year contract, discussions over an extension failed to produce an agreement.

The former Hull City, Watford and Everton manager now looks set to embark on a new challenge with Benfica, where talks have accelerated in recent days. The Lisbon giants moved for Silva after Mourinho's departure to Real Madrid, identifying him as their preferred candidate to take charge ahead of the new season.

His exit closes a memorable chapter for Fulham supporters, who saw the club transformed from a yo-yo side into an established Premier League outfit under Silva's leadership.