- Planet Sport writer
- 29 August 2024
Marco Silva: Fulham need to sign a winger
Fulham boss Marco Silva is eager to bring in another winger before the transfer window closes on Friday night.
Silva had an unremarkable career as a player, turning out for nine clubs. But it was at Portuguese side Estoril where he transitioned from player to manager.
In his first season in charge he led the club back to the Portuguese top flight after a seven year absence, and then guided them to consecutive Europa League qualifications.
Silva went on to win the Taca de Portgual with Sporting CP, and the Greek Super League with Olympiacos. But was less successful managing Hull City, Watford and Everton in the Premier League.
Now back in the Premier League with Fulham, Silva will be aiming to put an end the West London side's yo-yo club status.
Playing career
Silva's playing career was primarily spent in Portugal specifically in its second and third divisions.
He started his career at OF Belenenses, making only one appearance, and then, from 2000 to 2005, bounced between clubs in the lower reaches of Portuguese football.
In 2005, he joined GD Estoril Praia where he stayed until his retirement in 2011. He made 133 appearances and scored two goals, unsurprising given he was a right-back.
Managing in Portugal
Silva was initially appointed director of football at Estoril in 2011 but soon was made manager and led the club back to the top tier of Portuguese football as champions.
In their first season back, Estoril finished a surprising fifth and qualified for the Europa League.
In his final season in charge, Estoril finished fourth and Silva took the manager's job at Sporting CP at the end of the season.
At Sporting he replaced Leonardo Jardim who had joined AS Monaco. The club finished third in the league and won the Taca de Portugal under Silva in the 2014/15 season.
But, a few days after winning the Taca de Portugal, he was strangely dismissed for breaking club protocol, which included not wearing the club's official suit at a cup match earlier in the season.
Success with Olympiacos
Silva joined the Greek giants in the summer of 2015 and guided them to 17 consecutive wins and a 43rd league title.
However, after just one season in charge of the Red and Whites, Silva unexpectedly quit citing personal reasons.
Short stays at Hull City and Watford
Seven months after leaving Greece, Silva made his first foray into English football at Hull City in January 2017. He won his first four home matches in charge, including a 2-0 win over Liverpool.
Hull reached the semi-finals of the EFL Cup but lost to Manchester United over two legs, but it was a brief highlight in a season that ended in relegation.
Silva won eight games, lost eleven and resigned at the end of the season after just five months in charge.
Two days after his Hull stint had finished he was announced as the new Watford manager.
A good start to his tenure brought him to the attention of Premier League rivals Everton and Watford's form subsequently dipped.
Watford pulled the plug on Silva's reign in January 2018, with the club in tenth position, citing the "unwarranted approach by a Premier League rival" that caused "significant deterioration in both focus and results".
Everton flop
After forking out £4million in compensation over Watford's claim, Everton finally appointed Silva as manager in May 2018.
He guided them to a 4-0 win over Manchester United - their largest victory over the Old Trafford club in all competitions since 1984.
Everton finished 8th in Silva's first season in charge, no improvement from the season before. They did record a a 4-0 win over Manchester United - their largest victory over the Old Trafford club in all competitions since 1984.
Everton started the 2019/20 season poorly, and Silva was sacked in December after a 5-2 defeat by local rivals Liverpool left them in 18th place.
Bouncing back at Fulham
After over a year out of management, Silva joined Fulham in July 2021 on a three-year contract. He was named manager of the month for August.
Fulham scored 19 goals across just three matches in January, earning Silva another manager of the month award.
Fulham's return to the English top tier was confirmed in April 2022 after a 3-0 win over Preston, with the league title arriving two weeks later after thrashing Luton 7-0.
Fulham scored a 106 league goals during the season, with top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic netting an amazing 43 in 46 games.
Silva's net worth
His net worth is estimated to be between $1-5million in 2022.
