Overview
- Fulham confirmed Tuesday that Marco Silva will leave when his contract expires at the end of the month after five years in charge and an open letter from the coach thanked supporters.
- Multiple outlets report Silva has agreed a contract with Benfica through June 2028 with an option for 2029, a move widely attributed to the vacancy created by Jose Mourinho’s reported return to Real Madrid.
- Reports say Silva will take a lower salary at Benfica than the three-year renewal Fulham offered, though specific financial terms have not been officially confirmed by either club.
- Fulham owner Shahid Khan said the club had prepared for this outcome and will begin a timely but deliberate search for a replacement, with Ipswich’s Kieran McKenna named as a leading candidate who would require reported compensation.
- Silva leaves a clear legacy at Craven Cottage—promotion in 2021-22 and a club-record 54 Premier League points in 2024-25—and his departure could alter both Fulham’s transfer priorities and Benfica’s immediate push for domestic titles and European qualification.