Fulham have been forced to open up the search for a new manager for the first time since 2021 following the departure of Marco Silva to Benfica.
Silva had been the fifth longest-serving manager in English football but his five-year spell at Craven Cottage has now come to an end.
In a statement, Fulham thanked Silva for his services, before adding:
“We 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.”
So, who could that be? Read on for an analysis of four potential replacements.
Who should Fulham appoint?
Next Fulham manager odds
| Manager | Sky Bet Odds |
|---|---|
| Kieran McKenna | 6/4 |
| Thomas Frank | 5/1 |
| Frank Lampard | 7/1 |
| Jose Bordalas | 9/1 |
| Kjetil Knutsen | 9/1 |
| Edin Terzic | 10/1 |
| Liam Rosenior | 10/1 |
| Bo Svensson | 10/1 |
| Arne Slot | 10/1 |
| Mauricio Pochettino | 11/1 |
| You have to be 18+ to gamble. UK only. All odds within this article are accurate at the time of writing (03/06/2026). Be Gamble Aware. |
Favourite: Kieran McKenna
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has emerged as the early favourite in the betting market.
The 40-year-old secured promotion to the Premier League for a second time with the Tractor Boys after guiding them to a runners-up finish in the Championship, behind Frank Lampard’s Coventry City.
McKenna’s side were among the division’s strongest attacking outfits, leading the league for big chances created (92), ranking second for through balls completed (35), and recording the third-highest shot tally (693). They also scored 80 goals, conceded just 47, and suffered only one defeat in 23 home league matches.
Ipswich Town 2025-26: Dynamic Radar
The Northern Irishman’s focus for next season will be keeping Ipswich in the Premier League, something they struggled to achieve during the 2024-25 campaign when relegation followed a return of just four league victories. However, he will no doubt have learnt valuable lessons from that particular campaign.
Nevertheless, McKenna has built a reputation as one of the brightest young coaches in British football. His progressive style, tactical flexibility, and ability to improve players suggest he could be an attractive option for Fulham, where he’d be working with a higher quality pool of players.
Smart Fit: Thomas Frank
Thomas Frank could be an ideal fit for Fulham, given his impressive tenure at Brentford, with whom he led to a historic first promotion into the Premier League and then successfully stabilised them in the top-flight, where he turned the club into a well-organised, attractive, and competitive side.
Frank has built a reputation as an outstanding man-manager with excellent communication skills and a keen eye for data analysis. At the Bees he played a key role in unearthing and developing a long list of players, such as Bryan Mbeumo, Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, Yoane Wissa, and David Raya.
Tactically, the Dane is known for his pragmatism and adaptability, frequently adjusting his approach depending on the opponent. That flexibility, combined with his proven Premier League experience, could make him an ideal replacement for Silva.
One caveat, is he struggled to elevate his game at Tottenham after he made the switch last summer, although he’d argue that he wasn’t given enough time to fully implement his methods.
Roll of the Dice: Liam Rosenior
Admittedly, Liam Rosenior’s stock isn’t particularly high right now following an underwhelming 106-day stint in charge of Fulham’s West London neighbours Chelsea, which ended with five straight defeats.
Not exactly selling this one are we? However, every managerial career includes setbacks, and the key test is how Rosenior responds to this adversity. If the 41-year-old can extract the lessons from that chastening spell at Chelsea, he can channel that hunger and experience into his next post.
After all, this is a manager who built up an impressive reputation for progressive coaching and player improvement at Hull City then Strasbourg in France, leading the latter to a 7th-place finish and Conference League qualification.
Rosenior is unlikely to be the first-choice candidate, but his underlying coaching profile and development record means he can’t be completely ignored.
Long Shot: Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino is an appointment that would undoubtedly generate significant excitement should Fulham lure the Argentine back to the Premier League. His high-intensity, front-foot style of football, built around aggressive pressing and quick transitions, has long made him one of the most admired coaches in the game.
Pochettino also has a strong track record of developing players and elevating teams beyond expectations, most notably during his time in England at Southampton and Tottenham.
However, any move would come with obvious complications. Fulham would have to wait until the United States’ 2026 World Cup campaign concludes, which could stretch into July. Even then, there is no guarantee he would be available.
And, with the utmost of respect to Fulham, Pochettino may instead weigh up opportunities at clubs competing in European football.
