Fulham Football Club
the Cottagers.

Fulham First-Team Squad

Álvaro Arbeloa’s Cottagers are captained by Germany goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Wales playmaker Harry Wilson and the creative Emile Smith Rowe drive the attack, Brazilian striker Rodrigo Muniz leads the line, and Norway midfielder Sander Berge anchors a well-balanced squad at Craven Cottage.

Squad correct as of the summer 2026 window, which runs until 1 September — numbers and personnel may change. Follow every Fulham fixture and prediction at AI Pro Prediction and our Premier League predictions hub.

Fulham: A Complete Guide to the Cottagers

Origins and Identity

Fulham Football Club were founded in 1879 and are the oldest professional football club in London. Based in the affluent area of Fulham in west London, and playing at the picturesque Craven Cottage on the banks of the River Thames, Fulham — known as the Cottagers or the Whites — are a club with a long history and a distinctive, charming identity. In the modern era, Fulham have established themselves as a Premier League club with a reputation for stability and attractive football.

Playing in their traditional white shirts and black shorts at one of the most beautiful and historic grounds in English football, Fulham are renowned for their unique character and their idyllic riverside home. As London’s oldest club, Fulham hold a special place in the history of the capital’s football, and the modern era has seen the Cottagers become a well-run, respected top-flight club, competing with distinction while retaining the charm and identity that set them apart.

London’s Oldest Club

Fulham hold the distinction of being the oldest professional football club in London, having been founded in 1879. This heritage gives the club a unique and honoured place in the history of football in the capital, predating the many other famous London clubs that would follow. As the pioneers of professional football in the capital, Fulham occupy a place of genuine historical significance. Throughout their long history, Fulham have moved between the divisions of English football, experiencing both highs and lows, but always retaining their distinctive identity and charm.

For much of their history, Fulham were a lower-league or mid-table club, though they enjoyed periods in the top flight and produced memorable moments and famous players. The club’s status as London’s oldest, combined with its beautiful riverside home and its reputation as a friendly, family club, has given Fulham a special character that distinguishes it from many of its rivals. This heritage is a source of considerable pride for the Cottagers and their supporters.

Fulham Season-by-Season: Recent Premier League Record

The table below charts Fulham’s recent league finishes, illustrating the club’s promotion to the Premier League under Marco Silva and its subsequent establishment as a stable, well-organised top-flight side that has comfortably retained its status and produced some of the best seasons in the club’s modern history.

As the data shows, Fulham won promotion to the Premier League as Championship champions in 2022 under Marco Silva and have since established themselves as a settled top-flight club, recording a series of comfortable mid-table finishes and, in 2024–25, a club-record Premier League points haul. This period of stability under Silva represented one of the most consistent and successful spells in the club’s modern history, ending the cycle of promotions and relegations that had previously characterised Fulham. No longer were the Cottagers a club defined by yo-yoing between the divisions; instead, they had become a fixture of the Premier League.

The Al-Fayed Era and Rise

A defining period in Fulham’s modern history began in 1997, when the Egyptian businessman Mohamed Al-Fayed purchased the club, then in the lower divisions, and set about transforming its fortunes. Al-Fayed’s investment and ambition propelled Fulham on a remarkable rise through the divisions to the Premier League, which the club reached in 2001, marking the beginning of an extended period in the top flight and the most successful era in the club’s history to that point.

Under Al-Fayed’s ownership, Fulham established themselves as a Premier League club, redeveloped Craven Cottage and, most memorably, embarked on a remarkable run to the UEFA Europa League final in 2010. The Al-Fayed era transformed Fulham from a struggling lower-league club into an established top-flight side and delivered the greatest moments in the club’s history, and it remains a cherished chapter for Fulham supporters, who remember it as the period that put the Cottagers firmly on the map.

The 2010 Europa League Run

The greatest achievement in Fulham’s history came in 2010, when the club embarked on an extraordinary run to the final of the UEFA Europa League. Under the management of Roy Hodgson, Fulham produced a series of memorable performances, famously knocking out Juventus after coming from behind in an unforgettable night at Craven Cottage, and defeating other illustrious European clubs on their way to the final in Hamburg.

Although Fulham narrowly lost the final to Atlético Madrid after extra time, the run to a major European final was a scarcely believable achievement for a club of Fulham’s size and represented the pinnacle of the club’s history. The 2010 Europa League campaign, and the famous victory over Juventus in particular, provided Fulham supporters with unforgettable memories and confirmed the club’s remarkable rise under Mohamed Al-Fayed. It remains, without question, the defining achievement in the Cottagers’ long and colourful history.

Fulham’s Honours and Achievements

While Fulham have not won a major domestic trophy, the club has a proud record of achievement, including multiple promotions, a memorable run to a European final and success in cup competitions. The full breakdown of the club’s honours is charted below, reflecting a history marked by resilience, memorable moments and the remarkable achievements of the modern era.

This record, headlined by the club’s Championship titles, its Intertoto Cup success and its remarkable run to the 2010 Europa League final, reflects Fulham’s status as a well-run and competitive club. While the Cottagers await a first major domestic trophy, the achievements of the modern era, particularly the European adventure of 2010, are cherished by supporters as the highlights of the club’s long and distinctive history. Follow all of Fulham’s matches with our Premier League match predictions throughout the season.

The Marco Silva Era

Marco Silva’s appointment as Fulham manager in 2021 ushered in one of the most successful and stable periods in the club’s modern history. The Portuguese coach won promotion to the Premier League in his first season, guiding Fulham to the Championship title, and then established the Cottagers as a settled and competitive top-flight club, playing attractive, attacking football and recording a series of comfortable finishes that ended the club’s previous cycle of promotions and relegations.

Under Silva, Fulham became known for their entertaining, front-foot football and their ability to compete with and beat some of the biggest clubs in the Premier League. His success in stabilising the club and delivering consistent top-flight football, including a club-record points total, earned him enormous respect. After five years in charge, Silva departed to take over at Benfica in the summer of 2026, leaving behind a well-organised, competitive club and a legacy as one of the most successful managers in Fulham’s modern history. His five years of stability and progress at Craven Cottage will be remembered as a golden period of consistency for the Cottagers.

The Álvaro Arbeloa Era

Following Marco Silva’s departure, Fulham turned to the Spanish coach Álvaro Arbeloa, who was appointed on a three-year contract in the summer of 2026. Arbeloa, a former Real Madrid, Liverpool and Spain defender who won the Champions League and the World Cup as a player, had most recently served as interim manager of Real Madrid, leading the club for the latter part of a season before the appointment of a permanent successor. His arrival at Craven Cottage represents an exciting new chapter for the club.

Arbeloa brings elite playing experience and a growing coaching reputation to Fulham, and inherits a well-run, stable club established in the Premier League. The task of succeeding the popular and successful Marco Silva is a significant one, but Arbeloa’s pedigree and ambition make him an intriguing appointment. Fulham supporters will hope the Spaniard can build on the foundations laid by his predecessor and continue the club’s progress as an established and competitive Premier League side. His pedigree as a Champions League and World Cup winner brings a level of elite experience rarely seen at Craven Cottage.

Craven Cottage: A Riverside Jewel

Craven Cottage, Fulham’s home since 1896, is one of the most beautiful, historic and distinctive grounds in English football. Situated on the banks of the River Thames in west London, the ground is renowned for its charming, traditional character, its riverside setting and its unique features, including the famous Cottage itself in the corner of the ground. Craven Cottage is a beloved and iconic stadium, unlike any other in the Premier League.

In recent years, Fulham have redeveloped Craven Cottage, including the construction of a spectacular new riverside stand, modernising the ground and increasing its capacity while preserving its unique charm and character. The redevelopment reflects the club’s ambition and its commitment to its historic home. Craven Cottage remains one of the most cherished and picturesque venues in English football, an essential part of Fulham’s identity and a true jewel on the banks of the River Thames. Visiting supporters and neutrals alike regularly rank it among their favourite grounds in the country, drawn by its unique riverside charm and old-fashioned character.

Legendary Players and Modern Stars

Fulham’s history has featured many memorable players. The club’s greatest legend is Johnny Haynes, the elegant England captain and playmaker who spent his entire career at Fulham and is commemorated with a stand named in his honour at Craven Cottage. Haynes was one of the finest English players of his generation and remains an iconic figure in the club’s history, embodying the loyalty and quality associated with the Cottagers.

Over the decades, Fulham have been represented by a host of talented and popular players, including the stars of the Al-Fayed era and the 2010 Europa League run, such as the prolific striker Bobby Zamora and club captain Danny Murphy. Zamora’s goals and Murphy’s leadership were central to the club’s European adventure and its establishment in the top flight during that memorable era. In the modern era, Fulham have continued to attract and develop quality players, and the club’s reputation for playing attractive football, combined with its beautiful home, has made it a genuinely appealing destination for talented footballers seeking to establish themselves in the Premier League.

West London Rivalries

As a west London club, Fulham share local rivalries with their neighbours, most notably Chelsea, with whom they contest a west London derby rooted in geography and proximity. The two clubs are situated close to one another in west London, and matches between them carry local significance and pride, though the rivalry lacks the intensity of some of English football’s fiercest derbies given the difference in the clubs’ recent fortunes.

Fulham also share rivalries with other London clubs, including Queens Park Rangers and Brentford, in fixtures rooted in local geography. As an established Premier League club, Fulham regularly face the biggest names in English football, including their more illustrious London neighbours. While Fulham’s friendly, family-club reputation means their rivalries are generally less heated than some, these London derbies still carry meaning for supporters and add to the character of the club’s season.

The Khan Ownership

Fulham have been owned since 2013 by the Pakistani-American businessman Shahid Khan, who also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL. Khan’s ownership has brought stability and investment to the club, supporting Fulham’s establishment as a Premier League side and funding the significant redevelopment of Craven Cottage. Under his stewardship, the club has enjoyed one of the most stable and successful periods in its modern history. The Khan family’s patient, long-term approach has been in marked contrast to the turbulence of some other clubs under foreign ownership.

The Khan family, with Shahid’s son Tony serving in a senior role, have overseen Fulham’s consolidation in the Premier League and the modernisation of the club’s historic home. Their investment and long-term commitment have provided the platform for Fulham’s success under Marco Silva and the ambition to continue competing at the highest level. The continuity and patience shown by the Khan family have been widely praised as a model of sensible, stable football club ownership. The ownership’s stability and support have been important factors in the club’s modern rise and its establishment as a respected top-flight club.

The Famous Victory Over Juventus

The defining moment of Fulham’s 2010 Europa League run, and arguably the greatest single night in the club’s history, came against Juventus in the round of 16. Having lost the first leg in Turin, Fulham found themselves 4–1 down on aggregate early in the return match at Craven Cottage, seemingly heading out of the competition against one of the giants of European football. What followed was one of the most remarkable comebacks in the history of English football in Europe.

Fulham scored four goals to win the tie in an unforgettable night on the banks of the Thames, with Clint Dempsey’s audacious chip sealing a famous victory. The American forward’s moment of brilliance, lifting the ball delicately over the goalkeeper, has become one of the iconic images in Fulham’s history. The comeback against Juventus became the stuff of legend at Craven Cottage and sparked the run that would carry Fulham all the way to the final. For a club of Fulham’s size to defeat such illustrious opposition in such dramatic fashion remains one of the most cherished memories in the Cottagers’ long history. Older supporters still speak of that night against Juventus with a sense of wonder, recalling the disbelief and euphoria that swept through Craven Cottage.

The Johnny Haynes Legacy

No player is more revered in Fulham’s history than Johnny Haynes. The elegant playmaker and England captain spent his entire career at Craven Cottage, making hundreds of appearances and becoming the first footballer in England to earn £100 a week following the abolition of the maximum wage. Haynes was one of the finest English players of his generation, renowned for his precise passing and his loyalty to the club.

Haynes’ legacy at Fulham is immense, and he is commemorated by the Johnny Haynes Stand at Craven Cottage and a statue outside the ground. His loyalty and quality embodied the values of the club, and he remains the greatest player in Fulham’s history and an iconic figure to generations of supporters. The reverence in which Haynes is held reflects the importance of loyalty and character to the identity of Fulham Football Club.

Playing Philosophy and Style

Under Marco Silva, Fulham became known for playing attractive, attacking, possession-based football that made the club one of the more entertaining sides in the Premier League. Silva’s emphasis on technical quality, fluid attacking play and a positive approach suited the club’s traditions and made Fulham a difficult and enjoyable team to watch, capable of competing with and beating some of the biggest clubs in the division.

This commitment to attractive football aligns with Fulham’s heritage and the expectations of its supporters, who appreciate a stylish, front-foot approach. As new manager Álvaro Arbeloa takes charge, the challenge is to maintain the entertaining, competitive football that characterised the Silva era while adding his own ideas. Arbeloa’s background at Real Madrid, one of the world’s great attacking clubs, suggests a continuation of Fulham’s commitment to playing the game the right way.

A Family Club

Fulham have long been renowned as one of English football’s friendliest and most family-oriented clubs, a reputation rooted in the club’s charming character, its beautiful riverside home and its welcoming atmosphere. The Cottagers’ identity as a family club, distinct from the more intense atmosphere of some of their rivals, is a cherished part of what Fulham represents and a source of pride for the club and its supporters.

This friendly, welcoming character is embodied by Craven Cottage, with its picturesque setting and traditional charm, and by the warmth of the Fulham support. While the club is fiercely competitive on the pitch, its reputation as a family club and a friendly place to watch football sets it apart in the modern game and contributes to the distinctive identity that makes Fulham such a beloved and characterful institution in English football.

The Cottagers’ Community

Fulham are deeply connected to their west London community, and the club’s bond with its local area is an important part of its identity. Through the Fulham FC Foundation and its community programmes, the club uses its profile and resources to support local causes and to make a positive impact across west London, reflecting its commitment to the communities from which it draws its support and its status as a club with deep local roots. The foundation’s work spans education, health and social inclusion, touching many lives across the borough and beyond.

This connection to its community, combined with the club’s long history and distinctive character, is central to what Fulham represents. The loyalty and passion of the Fulham faithful, who have supported the club through the many ups and downs of its long history, are cherished by the club, and the bond between Fulham and its supporters remains at the heart of the Cottagers’ identity as London’s oldest and one of its most characterful football clubs.

The Roy Hodgson Chapter

The 2010 Europa League run was masterminded by the vastly experienced manager Roy Hodgson, whose work at Fulham represented one of the finest achievements of his long career. Hodgson took charge of the club at a difficult time, guiding Fulham to Premier League survival before leading them on their extraordinary European adventure. His tactical acumen and man-management transformed the club’s fortunes and delivered the greatest season in Fulham’s history.

Hodgson’s success at Craven Cottage earned him widespread admiration and marked him out as one of the most respected managers in English football. The run to the Europa League final, and the survival that preceded it, cemented his status as one of the most important figures in the club’s modern history. The Hodgson era demonstrated what Fulham could achieve with the right leadership, and it remains a cherished chapter in the story of London’s oldest club.

Established in the Premier League

One of the defining features of Fulham’s modern history under Marco Silva was the club’s transformation from a “yo-yo club”, bouncing between the divisions, into a settled and established Premier League side. Having previously endured a cycle of promotions and relegations, Fulham used the stability provided by Silva’s management and the Khan family’s ownership to consolidate their top-flight status and to build a competitive, well-organised team capable of comfortable mid-table finishes.

This establishment in the Premier League represented significant progress for the club, ending the instability of previous years and providing a foundation from which to grow. The club-record points total achieved under Silva demonstrated Fulham’s progress, and the challenge under Álvaro Arbeloa is to maintain and build on this stability. For a club that had so often struggled to establish itself in the top flight, the consistency of the modern era has been a source of considerable pride and satisfaction.

Craven Cottage Redevelopment

A significant development in Fulham’s modern era has been the major redevelopment of Craven Cottage, most notably the construction of a spectacular new Riverside Stand. This ambitious project modernised the club’s historic home, increasing its capacity and adding state-of-the-art facilities while carefully preserving the unique charm and character that make Craven Cottage one of the most beloved grounds in English football.

The redevelopment reflects the ambition of the Khan ownership and the club’s commitment to competing at the highest level while honouring its heritage. The new Riverside Stand, with its premium facilities and stunning views over the Thames, has transformed the matchday experience at Craven Cottage and increased the club’s revenue-generating potential. The successful modernisation of the ground, without sacrificing its distinctive character, has been a landmark achievement in Fulham’s modern history.

Developing and Recruiting Talent

Fulham have built their modern success on shrewd recruitment and the ability to identify and develop talented players. The club has a strong record of signing players who thrive at Craven Cottage, improving them and, in some cases, selling them on for significant profits, while also giving opportunities to young talent. This intelligent approach to recruitment has been an important factor in the club’s establishment as a competitive Premier League side.

The club’s reputation for playing attractive football and its beautiful, welcoming home have made Fulham an appealing destination for talented players seeking to establish or re-establish themselves in the Premier League. This ability to attract, develop and, when appropriate, trade quality players has been central to Fulham’s sustainable success, allowing the club to compete effectively despite the vast financial resources of some of its rivals and to maintain its status among the elite of English football. In a division defined by financial disparity, Fulham’s intelligent approach has allowed them to hold their own against far wealthier opponents.

European Ambitions

Having tasted the magic of a European final in 2010, Fulham harbour ambitions of returning to continental competition. For a club of Fulham’s size and resources, qualifying for Europe represents a significant challenge, but the progress made under Marco Silva, including finishes in the upper reaches of mid-table, showed that the Cottagers are capable of pushing towards the European places on their day.

A return to European football would echo the greatest era in the club’s history and provide the Fulham faithful with more of the unforgettable nights they experienced during the 2010 Europa League run. Under Álvaro Arbeloa, with the stability provided by the Khan ownership and a competitive squad, Fulham will aim to continue their progress and to challenge for the European qualification that would represent the next great milestone in the club’s modern journey and a fitting reward for years of steady growth.

Looking Ahead

As Fulham enter the 2026–27 season under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa, the club aims to build on the stability and success of the Marco Silva era and to continue establishing itself as a settled and competitive Premier League side. With an experienced ownership in the Khan family, a beautifully redeveloped historic home in Craven Cottage and a squad capable of competing with the best, Fulham have genuine reason for optimism. For London’s oldest club, with its distinctive charm and proud history, the goal is to consolidate and strengthen its Premier League status and, perhaps, to push once more towards the European football that would echo the glories of 2010. The Cottagers, backed by their loyal and passionate supporters on the banks of the Thames, look forward to their new chapter with real hope and ambition. Follow all the latest Fulham fixtures and predictions throughout the campaign.