Fulham confirmed the departure of manager Marco Silva after five seasons on Tuesday. The 48-year-old Portuguese coach returned the Cottagers to the Premier League in his first season, winning the Championship title in 2022.
Expected destination
Silva is widely expected to become Benfica's next manager, following BBC Sport's Sami Mokbel's earlier reporting. The Lisbon-born coach faces a familiar situation: Benfica are about to lose their current manager after Jose Mourinho spent only one season at the club.
The numbers are doing most of the announcement work here, which is usually how teams prefer it.
Mourinho is poised to return to Real Madrid, where he previously managed from 2010 to 2013, winning a Copa del Rey in 2011 and a La Liga title in 2012.
English chapter ends
Silva previously managed Hull City, Watford and Everton, accumulating nine years of experience in English football. Fulham offered Silva a contract extension, but he chose not to accept the offer.
Benfica concluded this past season in third place in the Primeira Liga, finishing eight points behind champions Porto.
Observations
The pull of home proved stronger than the security of an extension—that says something about where Silva sees the next chapter of his career.
Two managers, two quick exits. Benfica's managerial turnover lately reads like a revolving door they cannot seem to slow.