Premier League · Premier League · London, Greater London, England · Craven Cottage
Fulham FC
The oldest professional football club in London, Fulham play in one of the game's most charming settings at Craven Cottage on the banks of the River Thames, where Marco Silva has built a side that has restored stability after years of yo-yoing between divisions.
1879–1997
The Cottage Classics
Over a century of charm and near-misses
Fulham were founded in 1879 and moved to Craven Cottage in 1896, establishing a home that would become inseparable from the club's identity. For most of the twentieth century, Fulham were a respectable but unspectacular side, spending long periods in the Second Division. Their greatest player of this era was Johnny Haynes, an inside forward of extraordinary vision who captained England and became the first footballer to earn £100 per week in 1961.
The club had occasional moments of glory - reaching the FA Cup semi-finals in 1936 and 1958, and spending periods in the First Division - but never won a major trophy. George Cohen, a member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad, was another product of the Fulham system. Bobby Moore, the World Cup-winning captain, finished his career at the Cottage in the mid-1970s.
By the 1990s, Fulham had sunk to the third tier of English football. The quaint charm of Craven Cottage remained, but the club's competitive ambitions had dwindled to mere survival. That would change dramatically with the arrival of a new owner.
Key Facts
- Founded in 1879, London's oldest professional football club
- Craven Cottage has been home since 1896
- Johnny Haynes became the first £100-per-week footballer in 1961
- George Cohen won the 1966 World Cup while a Fulham player
1997–2013
The Al Fayed Years
Premier League arrival and Europa League glory
Mohamed Al Fayed's purchase of Fulham in 1997 transformed the club. The Harrods owner invested heavily, and under Jean Tigana, Fulham won the First Division (second tier) title in 2001 with a record 101 points, reaching the Premier League for the first time. Al Fayed's tenure was colourful - he famously erected a statue of Michael Jackson outside Craven Cottage - but the results on the pitch were impressive.
The crowning achievement came in 2009-10 under Roy Hodgson. Fulham's Europa League campaign was a fairy tale: they came from 4-1 down on aggregate against Juventus to win 5-4, beat Wolfsburg and Hamburg, and reached the final in Hamburg where they lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid after extra time. The journey, led by players like Bobby Zamora, Damien Duff, and Clint Dempsey, remains one of the great European adventures by an English club.
Fulham spent 13 consecutive seasons in the Premier League (2001-2014) under Al Fayed, the longest period in their history. The sale to Shahid Khan in 2013 ended the era, but Al Fayed's impact on the club was transformative.
Key Facts
- Mohamed Al Fayed purchased the club in 1997
- Won the First Division title with 101 points in 2000-01
- Reached the 2010 Europa League final under Roy Hodgson
- 13 consecutive Premier League seasons (2001-2014)
2013–Present
The Khan Era
Yo-yo years and Marco Silva's stability
Shahid Khan, the Pakistani-American billionaire who also owns the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL, acquired Fulham in 2013. The early years of his ownership were turbulent: Fulham were relegated in 2014, bounced between divisions, and earned the unwelcome reputation as a yo-yo club. A disastrous 2018-19 Premier League campaign, when the club spent over £100 million on transfers and were immediately relegated, exemplified the difficulties.
The appointment of Marco Silva as manager in 2021 proved the masterstroke. The Portuguese coach, who had previously managed Watford, Everton, and Hull, built a dynamic attacking side that won the Championship in 2021-22 and then, crucially, stabilised the club in the Premier League. A ninth-place finish in 2022-23 was the club's best since the Hodgson era.
Craven Cottage's redevelopment, with the new Riverside Stand adding capacity and hospitality facilities along the Thames, reflects Khan's commitment to the club's long-term future. Under Silva, Fulham have finally shown signs of breaking the yo-yo cycle and establishing themselves as a consistent Premier League club.
Key Facts
- Shahid Khan purchased the club in 2013
- Marco Silva appointed manager in 2021
- Won the 2021-22 Championship title
- Craven Cottage Riverside Stand redevelopment underway