As another Premier League season approaches its conclusion, Fulham find themselves comfortably positioned for a second consecutive top-half finish—a remarkable achievement that would have seemed unbelievable just a few seasons ago when making a bet on football, especially given how many key matchups they would lose at the start of the 2020s.
The Cottagers’ transformation from perennial promotion-relegation candidates to established top-flight outfit represents one of English football’s most impressive rebuilding projects, offering valuable lessons to this season’s relegated clubs, especially when there are arguments that it is harder than ever to consistently be a topflight fixture.
For a team once mockingly labelled a “yo-yo club,” Fulham’s journey from Championship dominance to Premier League stability shows that, at least a few years ago, that the Premier Leage isn’t a closed shop – a new team can break the cycle of promotion and relegation that plagues so many clubs.
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Breaking The Yo-Yo Pattern
Prior to 2021, Fulham epitomised the frustrating existence of a club caught between two divisions. Too strong for the Championship but seemingly not robust enough for the Premier League, they experienced three relegations in seven seasons between 2014 and 2021.
Each promotion was followed by an immediate return to the second tier, with expensive transfer mistakes and tactical naivety frequently undermining their efforts.
The turning point came with Marco Silva’s appointment in July 2021. The Portuguese manager arrived at Craven Cottage with a point to prove after mixed spells at Everton and Watford had damaged his reputation in English football.
What followed was extraordinary—a Championship campaign that rewrote record books as Fulham scored 106 goals and amassed 90 points, playing with a swagger rarely seen in England’s second tier.
Clever Recruitment
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Fulham’s Premier League consolidation has been their response to losing key players.
When Aleksandar Mitrović departed for Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal in a £46 million deal, many predicted Fulham would struggle without their talisman who had scored 111 goals in 205 appearances including most goals in a single Championship season.
Rather than panic-buying a direct replacement, Silva just altered his tactical approach. He distributed goal-scoring responsibility more broadly across the team, with Raúl Jiménez stepping in to provide a focal point while offensive contributions increased from midfielders and wide players. It made Fulham less predictable in attack and more resilient when key personnel are unavailable.
The club faced another significant challenge when Joao Palhinha—arguably the Premier League’s best ball-winning midfielder in 2022/23—seemed destined for Bayern Munich. After a transfer collapse on deadline day, Fulham successfully reintegrated a player who had already said his goodbyes. Though they eventually lost him the following window, the additional time allowed proper succession planning.
Similarly, when Crystal Palace came calling for promising defender Joachim Andersen, and Tosin Adarabioyo left to join Chelsea on a free, Fulham had already secured alternatives.
This forward-thinking recruitment strategy, led by sporting director Tony Khan, ensures the squad constantly evolves rather than requiring periodic overhauls.
Silva Lining
Silva’s rehabilitation as a top-flight manager parallels Fulham’s own rise. Once dismissed as tactically inflexible after difficulties at Goodison Park, the Portuguese has demonstrated considerable growth at Craven Cottage. His evolution from the attack-at-all-costs approach that dominated the Championship to a more balanced Premier League setup highlights an adaptability that critics once claimed he lacked.
Instead of wholesale changes upon promotion—a mistake made during previous Premier League campaigns—Silva and Fulham’s recruitment team made targeted additions. They retained the core that had dominated the Championship while supplementing it with experienced Premier League performers and select international talent.
Blueprint For Relegated Clubs
As Southampton and Leicester City prepare for life in the Championship, while Burley return to the top flight for the second time in three years, Fulham’s model offers a compelling template.
All three risk becoming trapped in the promotion-relegation cycle that the Cottagers escaped, with clubs like Leeds United and Sheffield United also in danger of being on the periphery.
For a club once defined by instability, Fulham’s current consistency represents the culmination of a carefully executed plan.
As they eye another comfortable Premier League finish, those clubs heading in the opposite direction would be wise to study the Cottagers’ blueprint for breaking the yo-yo cycle and establishing top-flight permanence.
