FULHAM FULHAM v SOUTHAMPTON v FULHAM FULHAM FC FOOTBALL CLUB The Official Matchday Programme London's Original Season 18/19 | £3.50 Football Club PREMIER LEAGUE SATURDAY 24TH NOVEMBER, 3PM NOVEMBER, 24TH SATURDAY LEAGUE PREMIER V FULHAMSATURDAY FC 24TH NOVEMBER KICKOFF 3PM 7 ISSUE NO. 7 FFC_COVERSPREADv2.indd 1 21/11/2018 15:30 003 CONTENTS.indd 2 02/08/2018 10:55 FULHAM FC DIRECTORY Fulham Football Club, Training Ground, Motspur Park, Surrey, KT3 6PT CONTENTS Tel: 0843 208 1222 | Fax: 0208 336 0514 Email: [email protected] FFC Ticket Line: 0203 871 0810 CHAIRMAN & DIRECTORS Chairman: Shahid Khan Vice Chairman & Director of Football Operations: Tony Khan Chief Executive Officer: Alistair Mackintosh Non-Executive Director: Mark Lamping Non-Executive Director: David Daly FOOTBALL MANAGEMENT Manager: Claudio Ranieri CHAIRMAN MANAGER Head of Fitness & Physical Performance: Shahid Khan explains Claudio Ranieri looks Andrea Azzalin 06 his decision to make a 08 ahead to his first game as Assistant Manager: Paolo Benetti managerial change the Whites’ new boss First Team Coaches: Carlo Cornacchia & Scott Parker Goalkeeping Coach: Paolo Orlandoni Assistant Fitness Coach: Vitantonio Pascale Manager of First Team Medical & Sports Science: Marco Cesarini Fitness Coaches: Alastair Harris & Gary Hall FOOTBALL OPERATIONS Vice Chairman & Director of Football Operations: Tony Khan Assistant Director of Football Operations & Chief Scout: Brian Talbot MANAGEMENT BOARD CAPTAIN MAIN INTERVIEW Chief Executive Officer: Alistair Mackintosh Tom Cairney is out to Denis Odoi hopes 10 get our season started 34 recent events will Chief Revenue Officer: Casper Stylsvig Academy Director: Huw Jennings against Southampton improve Fulham fortunes Chief Operating Officer: Darren Preston General Counsel: Peter Limbert Fulham FC Foundation CEO: Mike McSweeney THE EXFILES EDITORIAL 46 Micky Adams enjoyed five years in Saints stripes. We caught up Programme Editor: Tom Harvey with our former boss Art Editor: Paul West NOW! THAT’S WHAT I CALL RANDOM QUESTIONS Contributors: Bob Cain, Gordon Davies, Leigh Ryan Sessegnon randomly chooses eight questions from our list Edwards, Andy Greeves, Drew Heatley, Dean 56 of 30 Jones, Adam Micklewright, John Shirley, Noriko Thomas & Alex White THE LIST Photography: Ken Coton, The Press Association We make lists of random things. Up next - and to coincide with & Shutterstock Inc 66 Movember - it’s the top three Fulham moustaches THANKS TO Micky Adams, Fred Callaghan, Matt Edwards, THE WAY I SEE IT Ben Kosky, Adam Leitch, Carmelo Mifsud, Leah 72 A former Whites star talks us through a Fulham-related Mylles, Geoff Pruce, David Slark & David Squires photograph of them. Today, it’s Fred Callaghan GEORGE WILLIAMS 76 The former Fulham youngster now finds himself at Forest Green Rovers. He’s looking to get back on track in League Two SONGS IN THE KEY OF LIFE MATCHDAY PROGRAMME 96 A Whites ace reveals his personal playlist. This afternoon, it’s Published by ProgrammeMaster left-back Joe Bryan Managing Director: Lee Berry Printing: Bishops Printers GORDON DAVIES Programme Subscriptions: 0207 121 5000 98 As he’s inducted into the Forever Fulham club, Ivor airs his views Enquiries: [email protected] on all things FFC in his regular column Website: programmemaster.com fulhamfc.com 03 CONTENTS.indd 3 22/11/2018 16:27 04 The Offi cial Fulham FC Matchday Programme OPENING SHOT.indd 4 22/11/2018 11:48 OPENING SHOT ALL CHANGE Claudio Ranieri was named Fulham’s new boss on Wednesday 14th November. The Italian succeeds Slaviša Jokanović. fulhamfc.com 05 OPENING SHOT.indd 5 22/11/2018 11:48 SHAHID KHAN THE CHAIRMAN Shahid Khan explains his decision to replace Slaviša Jokanović with Claudio Ranieri… WELCOME TO Craven Cottage for I was troubled, subsequently, by place deep in the hearts of everyone what is undoubtedly a match of our poor response and performances within the Fulham community. I thank league-wide and even international in the matches that followed. There Slaviša, who leaves with my deepest interest. I am pleased to welcome is no reason to revisit specifics, as the appreciation and respect. I know he not only our faithful Fulham fans, but last thing I want is to leave anyone will succeed again, and soon. also our visitors from Southampton, with the impression that I am pinning Now, to our future. who were just here in January for all of our shortcomings in recent weeks Upon determining that a change an FA Cup match that turned out on the Head Coach. Absolutely not. was in order, I judged potential to be our final defeat at home last But, it must be noted that we have not candidates against a demanding list season. Today we are Premier League trended well in virtually every measure of standards with two key criteria opponents and, as the table indicates, all season, and it became evident to considered as absolute - past success both clubs have a lot to play for this me after our defeat at Huddersfield in the Premier League or top-flight afternoon. Greetings, all! Town that patience and confidence football and being ready to go to work Before I touch on the obvious were no longer a remedy to correct immediately. With 12 matches in the storyline of the afternoon and season our course. books and sitting alone at the bottom thus far, I want to express my personal It was admittedly difficult to think of of the table of the Premier League, condolences to the family and friends making a change given the character, this was neither the time nor the place of Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, and leadership and accomplishment of to gamble on Slaviša’s successor. everyone who loves Leicester City, in Slaviša during his spell at Fulham. Do Above all, to spend the international the wake of his untimely and tragic not misunderstand - I changed my break and possibly a number of passing last month. I never had mind with conviction. But I am no the upcoming matches under a the pleasure of meeting him, but different than the legions of our fans caretaker manager as we conducted admired all he did for Leicester and here in London and throughout the a potentially long and distracting the Premier League, as well as for his great works outside of football “ THERE WERE OTHER STRONG and in his life’s journey overall. Mr Srivaddhanaprabha’s days on Earth CANDIDATES UNDER CONSIDERATION, may have been shortened, but he nonetheless lived a remarkable, BUT NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS THE honourable and fulfilling life that by PREMIER LEAGUE, OUR CLUB, OUR all accounts was dedicated to the benefit of others. You cannot ask for a PLAYERS AND EVEN OUR SUPPORTERS better legacy than that. Peace to you, chairman Vichai. LIKE CLAUDIO RANIERI ” A portion of my last programme world who will never forget how Slaviša search would be merely swapping notes, published ahead of our home rescued the Club from a potential drop unsteadiness for uncertainty. match against AFC Bournemouth, was to League One and would, in relatively That’s not an acceptable approach dedicated to expressing my support short time, return us to the Premier for the challenge we are facing. We and backing of Slaviša Jokanović as League with a thrilling brand of needed stability and a new vision not our Head Coach. As I reflect upon my football that would become a Fulham only in time for today’s match, but comments of four weeks ago, I don’t Football Club signature in each of our certainly ahead of what may be the regret a word I said. My belief in Slav past two seasons in the Championship. most crucial stretch of any season in and our ability to restart our campaign If you’re a supporter of Fulham, I am recent memory, with our next three was staunch. I thought it fair to also no different than you in league games coming within seven assume that our form would straighten celebrating the 23-match unbeaten days - next weekend at Chelsea, out in time for a strong run in the run, the Play-Off win at home over followed by Wednesday evening at second half of the season, in the spirit Derby County and especially that home to Leicester and concluding of Slav’s squads over the previous two beautiful May afternoon at Wembley with a trip to Manchester United. years in the Championship. Reports of Stadium as memories that will be That’s nine points in play in only a Slav’s future being in peril, at the time, everlasting. Slav was central to each week’s time, and 12 points over two were truly baseless. of those moments, and he deserves a weeks when considering today’s 06 The Official Fulham FC Matchday Programme THE CHAIRMAN.indd 6 22/11/2018 14:09 match. There is too much at stake Fulham home match this season and has impeccable taste in football, her in our near and long-term future for viewed the others in some other qualifications to lead the Premier me to have just wished hard for a fashion. His analysis of where we’ve League - a global superpower in turnaround or make a change with no been - and how we get to where we sport and beyond - are what the viable succession plan. need to go - was unqualified proof that game needs as we strive to serve the With that, following the defeat at Claudio was paying attention. There clubs, their business interests, players, Huddersfield, I continued to support were other strong candidates supporters and the game itself. Slaviša by meeting with him and the under consideration, but none who Moreover, the world can use more players in Liverpool and, of course, understands the Premier League, our inclusion and diversity in positions of hoped the outcome at Anfield would club, our players and even our influence and leadership.