Why Marco Silva, Often Overlooked, Truly Deserves Recognition for Keeping Fulham Competitive

Nestled in a charming part of London, Craven Cottage has long been home to Fulham, a club that, apart from a few legendary names like Bobby Moore, Rodney Marsh, and George Best who graced the pitch in the 1970s, hasn’t truly been regarded as one of the city’s elite teams.

During that vibrant decade, Fulham made an appearance at Wembley, but it was Alan Taylor who stole the show, netting two goals for West Ham in the 1975 FA Cup final against their former player, Moore’s Fulham.

Had Marco Silva’s current squad not succumbed to Crystal Palace in their quarter-final this season, they would have had the chance to offer their supporters a day out at the iconic stadium (albeit for one of the semi-finals) for the first time in half a century.

Astonishing Achievements in the Premier League

Fulham’s journey in both the FA Cup and the Premier League since Silva took charge at the age of 47 has largely flown under the radar, prompting reflections on whether he deserves recognition as one of the most underrated managers in English football.

With only the 14th highest net spending (£121.4 million) among the 20 clubs in the Premier League over the past five years and Craven Cottage boasting the fourth smallest capacity in the league, holding just 29,589 fans, Silva’s ability to lead his team to finishes of 10th and 13th in the last two seasons is an extraordinary achievement.

Currently sitting ninth in the league, securing another top-10 finish would be a remarkable feat for Fulham. With five matches still ahead, Silva’s win percentage of 41% in the 2024/25 season has only been eclipsed by his impressive 50% success rate during the promotion-winning season in 2021/22.

They have netted 58 goals this season, just seven short of their most productive recent outing of 65 goals in 2023/24, while they have also tightened their defence, allowing 52 goals—an improvement on the previous seasons’ 61 and 70.

Fulham’s tally of 16 victories in the 2024/25 season is only two shy of the 18 they achieved in 2022/23, marking a level of consistency that reflects Silva’s strategic approach.

The Cottagers Are Competitively Resilient

Even in their 12 defeats this season, Fulham have rarely been beaten decisively; opponents have had to labour for their points. In fact, they have lost by more than a single goal only three times in the current campaign.

Silva’s squad is known for their attacking style, with the team having struck the woodwork nine times this season, additionally.

Of the 58 goals scored in the 2024/25 season, a staggering 54 have come from within the penalty box, with only nine being headers. This statistic indicates not only a keen desire to utilise floor play but also a level of efficiency in their attacking strategy.

Silva’s Fulham is keen on accurate passing as evidenced by their staggering total of 19,361 passes this season, of which a notable 16,439 were successful, marking a pass completion rate of 84.9%. To put this achievement in context, Liverpool, the likely Premier League champions, have completed 22,073 passes with a success rate of 86.3%.

Fulham’s Forward Passes Outshine Manchester City

In an impressive feat, Fulham has completed 6,000 forward passes so far, outperforming Manchester City’s 5,772. This highlights Fulham’s robust ball control and their intention to dominate matches through possession, despite Silva not being mentioned alongside other high-profile managers in the league.

As legendary manager Brian Clough once famously remarked, “If God had intended us to play football in the clouds, he would have put grass up there,” a philosophy Silva seems to embody in his coaching approach.

While there is room for improvement in terms of their defensive record, the side’s commitment is commendable, having won 418 of 694 attempted tackles for a 60.2% success rate and regaining possession 1,673 times throughout the season.

Ultimately, the team’s play style mirrors that of their manager, as every football squad invariably reflects the philosophy of the coach guiding them each week. Despite often being overlooked in conversations about the manager of the year awards, Silva warrants recognition for maintaining a competitive team that excels in attractive football, all while navigating a far less lucrative budget than many of his peers.