Former Premier League manager makes quit claim during angry rant months after joining club

· Mirror

Former Fulham boss Marco Silva is enduring a rough start to life at Portuguese giants Benfica after joining in the summer

Former Premier League boss Marco Silva has cast doubt over his future at Benfica. The ex-Fulham, Everton and Hull City manager chose to leave Craven Cottage upon the expiry of his contract at the end of last season.

Silva arrived at Fulham in 2021 and guided the club to the Championship title in his first season before consolidating the club's position in the top flight. He led the Cottagers to an 11th-place finish in 2025, setting a new club record in the Premier League by winning 54 points.

Fulham finished 10th, 13th, 11th and 11th in the Premier League during Silva's tenure, with the Portuguese boss enjoying a 2-0 win over Newcastle in his final game in charge last season. The 49-year-old then went on to replace Jose Mourinho, who returned to Real Madrid, at Benfica. Silva has endured a tough start at the Lisbon-based club, with his side losing 3-1 at rivals Porto last time out.

Silva was furious at the refereeing in the match at the Estadio do Dragao, particularly after Benfica defender Clement Lenglet was dismissed 10 minutes before the interval. He then suggested that referees in Portugal are often influenced by what clubs say before and after matches.

And Portuguese outlet Record have published a transcript of Silva’s comments following Sunday's defeat that left his side five points adrift of Porto.

He said: "I won't comment on the sending off.

> "If the club has something to say about the match, I think it should say it.

> "I don't know if I'll be able to continue like this until the end of the season, because I come from a different culture.

> "Here, unfortunately, you can influence referees before matches, after them and during the week, and sometimes it works.

> "I'm not going to go down that route."

Silva spent five years at Fulham, which made him the third-longest-serving boss in the Premier League and the fifth-longest in the Football League.

In an open letter to the supporters after his exit was confirmed, Silva said: "To our fans - I asked you, from day one, to always be with us. And that’s what you did these past five years. We achieved a lot together.

> "My staff and I always felt your support. It will never be forgotten. Fulham will always be in my heart, and sooner or later I will be back at Craven Cottage."

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