Marco Silva has confirmed he is leaving Fulham after five years at the club, with the 48-year-old Portuguese manager closing in on a move to Benfica.
Silva’s contract expires at the end of June, and uncertainty had surrounded his future during the final months of the season as speculation grew.
The club had offered Silva a new three-year deal, with Fulham keen to retain the manager who transformed their fortunes since his arrival in 2021.
Silva was appointed when Fulham were in the Championship and guided them to promotion in his very first season at the helm.
He has since established the London club as a stable Premier League outfit, finishing 10th, 13th, and 11th in his three top-flight campaigns prior to this season.
A victory over Newcastle on the final day of the current season sealed an 11th-placed finish in the Premier League.
Silva, who had previously managed Hull City, Watford, and Everton in England, addressed supporters directly through an open letter published on his departure.
“After five years, our journey together comes to an end,” Silva wrote, adding: “Fulham will always be in my heart, and sooner or later I will be back at Craven Cottage.”
He also paid tribute to supporters, saying: “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.”
Fulham owner Shahid Khan acknowledged the manager’s contribution, stating that Silva and the club “were an excellent fit” during their time together.
Khan added that “change is inevitable in this game” and said the club had prepared accordingly for the moment Silva’s tenure would come to a close.
The owner expressed confidence in Fulham’s appeal to prospective managers, citing “the talent in our squad, our historic home ground of Craven Cottage, our faithful supporters” as key attractions.
Khan confirmed the club 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.”
Discussions between Silva and Benfica have progressed significantly in recent days, with sources indicating an agreement is within reach.
Benfica are seeking a successor to Jose Mourinho, who has departed the club and signed a three-year deal to become Real Madrid’s new head coach.
