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Benfica have identified Fulham’s Marco Silva as their primary target to succeed Jose Mourinho, setting up a potential tug-of-war with Chelsea for the Portuguese manager’s services.
Following the dismissal of Liam Rosenior just three months into his tenure, Chelsea’s hierarchy is prioritising a more patient approach for their next permanent appointment.
Calum McFarlane has been placed in interim charge for the remainder of the 2025/26 season, giving the club’s sporting directors a clear window until June to vet candidates.
The goal is to avoid another short-lived project and instead find a manager with a big character and proven top-level experience to steady a restless dressing room.
The shortlist has already begun to take shape, with Andoni Iraola emerging as a frontrunner following his confirmed departure from Bournemouth. Fulham’s Marco Silva and the currently unattached Xabi Alonso are also high on the list, but nothing more than that at this stage.
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Photo by Elsa – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images Marco Silva in the running for the Benfica job
Fulham manager Marco Silva has already been linked with the vacant managerial job at Chelsea, but the London club expects him to sign a new contract.
And it seems as if it wouldn’t be straightforward for Chelsea, regardless, as Benfica want Marco Silva to replace Jose Mourinho, who has been linked with Real Madrid (Record).
Of course, the links between Jose Mourinho and Chelsea have been there too, but a return to Stamford Bridge won’t happen given the Blues’ current situation.
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Photo by Michael Regan – The FA/The FA via Getty Images Marco Silva lacks the top level experience
Marco Silva’s inclusion on Chelsea’s managerial shortlist has sparked a debate regarding whether he possesses the top-level pedigree required for Stamford Bridge.
He has been praised for stabilising Fulham and implementing an attractive style of play, but his critics argue that his resume lacks experience at a big six club. His previous stints at Everton, Watford, and Hull City all ended prematurely, often under a cloud of inconsistency or mid-season slumps.
Unlike fellow candidates like Xabi Alonso, he has yet to manage a squad competing for major European honors or the Premier League title. Though he won trophies in Portugal and Greece earlier in his career, the pressure of a Chelsea rebuild is a different beast entirely.
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