He makes you feel like you can fly: The secrets of Marco Silva's success as the hottest managerial property in the top flight - and how he led Fulham to the brink of Europe
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In the away changing room at Stamford Bridge before Thursday’s historic victory, Marco Silva told his players that it was ‘too long’ since Fulham fans had seen their team win at Chelsea in the top flight. Forty-five years, in fact. The wild celebrations that followed Rodrigo Muniz’s 95th-minute winner in front of the Shed End summed up the raw emotions, with Silva channeling his inner Jose Mourinho and running down the touchline.
![[The dramatic last-gasp 2-1 victory was the Cottagers' first away win at Chelsea in 45 years]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/16/93521747-0-image-a-35_1735315296856.jpg)
Silva called it Fulham’s ‘best Boxing Day’ in decades, and it’s hard to argue with that. They have had a lot of their highest highs in recent months. Under their Portuguese manager, Fulham are competing with the best in the Premier League. They are a point off the top five, which will likely be enough to secure a Champions League place in the expanded competition next season, and European football is very much on the cards for the first time since 2011.
![[Silva has done a brilliant job with Fulham since arriving in 2021. The Portuguese led them to the Championship title in 2021-22, before guiding the club to two midtable top flight finishes]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/16/93521843-0-image-a-36_1735315401369.jpg)
The Cottagers are unbeaten against each of that top five in the top flight — beating Chelsea, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle and drawing against Liverpool and Arsenal. For a man dumped by Everton five years ago this month after just a year and a half on Merseyside, competing in the Premier League has always been the dream.
![[Silva's previous role saw him sacked by Everton, a decision that left him devastated]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/16/93521669-14230303-image-a-38_1735315518252.jpg)
Before Fulham, his last three jobs at Hull City, Watford and Goodison Park were all in England, but that sacking with the Toffees in 18th left him devastated and the options were no longer there. Marco Silva is flying high with Fulham after their win over Chelsea took them up to eighth.
![[Alex Iwobi has improved hugely under Silva and was full of praise for his coaching credentials]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/12/27/16/93521649-14230303-image-a-37_1735315509555.jpg)
