Fulham Targets Two Key Candidates to Succeed Marco Silva After His Departure

Fulham Targets Two Key Candidates to Succeed Marco Silva After His Departure

Fulham's search for a new manager intensifies as vice-chairman and director of football operations Tony Khan reveals the club has two candidates “in particular” for the role following the departure of Marco Silva. Marco Silva, who managed the club for five years, recently left Craven Cottage to join Benfica, taking over from Jose Mourinho, now back at Real Madrid. Reports from BBC Sport indicate that Fulham is in advanced discussions with Alvaro Arbeloa, a 43-year-old Spaniard, for the managerial position. Additionally, Frank Lampard, 47, has emerged as a potential candidate after leading Coventry City back to the Premier League by winning the Championship title last season. Khan expressed surprise that Silva, 48, did not sign a new contract, stating: "There have been a lot of names mentioned, and it is interesting because it is going very well." "We have got a few people that the board are talking to that are very exciting and interesting candidates." He also clarified that some rumored candidates were never in discussions with the club. Alongside Arbeloa and Lampard, Fulham has held conversations with Kieran McKenna, who recently stepped down as manager of Ipswich Town after their promotion. Khan affirmed, "There are two in particular who have had multiple meetings with the board and who we really like," while emphasizing the club's openness to further discussions. Last season, Fulham finished 11th in the league, narrowly missing out on European competition by two points. Arbeloa, a former defender for Liverpool and West Ham, briefly managed Real Madrid at the end of last season, while Lampard has a rich managerial background, including significant tenures at Chelsea and Everton.

Source: BBC Sport - 2026-06-17