With Marco Silva still undecided on his future and set to leave Fulham at the end of the season as it stands, the Cottagers will be looking for their first manager in half a decade.
Replacing Scott Parker in 2021 after the club suffered its second relegation in three years, Silva has reestablished Fulham in the Premier League with finishes of 10th, 13th and 11th.
As well as become frequent challengers for Europe, the Portuguese gaffer led Fulham to their record points tally last season.
Despite having a new three-year contract offer on the table, rumours of Silva replacing Jose Mourinho at Benfica have begun to gain some traction. With that in mind, here are five mangers Fulham can turn to in the event of Marco Silva’s departure.
Fulham’s decision will be hugely important. Silva has not only stabilised the club but also reshaped expectations around Craven Cottage. The next appointment would need to balance continuity with ambition, while ensuring the club do not slip backwards after years of steady Premier League growth.
Filipe Luis
A hugely successful left back who played for Atletico Madrid and Chelsea, Filipe Luis has taken managerial life in his stride-wining 10 trophies in 16 months with Flamengo before being sacked after failing out with the Brazilian club’s hierarchy.
Luis plays the same formation as Silva, a 4-2-3-1 which favours heavy press and possession-based football.
While very much in his managerial infancy, clubs like Brentford and Brighton are reaping the rewards of taking a gamble by appointing an inexperienced but hungry coach. Why can’t Fulham do the same?
Kieran Mckenna
A stalwart of Ipswich Town’s recent promotion success, Kieran Mckenna has long been admired by Fulham and reports of their interest begin circulating in March.
The former Manchester United coach led Ipswich back to the Premier League at the first time of asking this season after relegation in 2024/25.
Like Silva, the Northern Irishman deploys a 4-2-3-1 system that enables aggressive play and fluid attacking wing play.
Only 40 years old, Mckenna may have to prove his worth at Premier League level next season with Ipswich before established clubs come calling.
Oliver Glasner
Arguably Crystal Place’s greatest manger, Glaser has led Palace to FA Cup and Community Shield Glory-with a possible Europa Conference League trophy to add to that tally.
Appointing Glasner would see a tactical shift for Fulham, as the Austrian favours 3 at the back, with direct and diagonal passing favoured over possession domination.
Having fallen out with the Palace board over lack of transfer signings, Glasner would likely experience similar issues at Fulham with Silva frequently voicing his displeasure at a perceived lack of urgency in the markets.
Hugo Oliveria
The least established name on this list for sure, but Hugo Oliveira’s credentials should not be sniffed out.
Oliveria has just led Famalicao to 5th in Portugal’s topflight in his first full season in management.
He was Fulham’s goalkeeper coach under Silva for three years, having worked with him at Hull, Watford and Everton.
His style of play is extremely similar to Silva and would represent the continuation of the Silva project but with a fresher outlook.
The familiarity with Fulham’s structure, recruitment strategy and dressing-room culture could make Oliveira an attractive low-risk option if the club prioritise continuity over a dramatic tactical reset.
Thomas Frank
Not the favourite name on this list for Fulham Fans. However, Thomas Frank’s managerial success is unquestionable.
While the Tottenham job did not work out, Fulham could act as Frank’s redemption project where he could rediscover his obvious managerial talents which enabled him to achieve great success at Brentford.
He would also have more resources at Craven Cottage, while Fulham offers the Dane a swift route back to the Premier League.
Frank’s ability to maximise smaller budgets and build strong dressing-room unity could appeal heavily to Fulham’s hierarchy, particularly if they want a manager already proven within the unique demands of English football.
