Fulham have confirmed that head coach Marco Silva will leave the club this summer, bringing an end to a five-year spell at Craven Cottage.
The west London club announced the departure in a statement on Tuesday, saying the 48-year-old Portuguese will depart when his contract expires at the end of June. Silva was appointed in July 2021 with Fulham in the Championship and during his tenure became the Premier League's third longest-serving manager, and the fourth longest across England's top four leagues.
The club said Silva rejected a lucrative new three-year deal worth around £7 million per season. He is now expected to return to his homeland to take charge of Benfica, succeeding José Mourinho, who is set to join Real Madrid after a season in Lisbon.
Owner Shahid Khan said Fulham and Silva had been "an excellent fit for five seasons" but that "change is inevitable in this game, and we've accordingly prepared for this moment." In a farewell note to fans, Silva said supporters had stood by the team from day one and that Fulham "will always be in my heart."
Silva led Fulham to the Championship title in his debut campaign and promotion in 2022, then secured four straight years of Premier League football, all ending in mid-table finishes that ended the club's history of repeated promotions and relegations.
Under his leadership Fulham also reached two FA Cup quarter-finals and a League Cup semi-final. The club said work on appointing a successor has begun, with former Fulham defender Liam Rosenior and ex-Bologna coach Vincenzo Italiano among the early candidates mentioned.