The Best Players in the History of Fulham Football Club
‘‘I suppose if I had my time again, I would refuse it and stay at Fulham because I thoroughly enjoyed my time there…’’ This quote from English football legend Kevin Keegan captures the spirit of the team.
With roots dating back to 1879, Fulham Football Club stands out as the oldest professional football club in London. About 19 years after its founding, Fulham moved to Craven Cottage, a center that it has called home to date. This is where the team has experienced all the terrific histories and amazing players that have donned its jerseys.
Legends who have won the white shirt and black shorts over the last century (and more) for Fulham Football Club have spanned every section of the lineup, from rock-solid defenders to creative midfielders and prolific goal scorers.
Below, we list the five best players in the history of the West London team.
5. Chris Coleman
Chris Coleman is one of Fulham’s legends who starred at Craven Cottage both as a player and a manager. His professional football career spanned from 1997 to 2007, starting with a then-club record transfer of £2.1 million from Blackburn Rovers and peaking with him getting the captaincy band.
However, Coleman’s illustrious career ended on a rather tragic note after a leg break from an accident in January 2001 after 161 appearances. While he remained at the club for another year and a half, he never fully recovered from the extent of his injuries and announced his retirement afterward.
Soon after his playing career, Coleman’s love for Fulham ensured he joined the team’s coaching staff, became a caretaker manager, and finally emerged as the team’s permanent manager as the then-youngest coach in Premier League history. Perhaps his biggest feat as a Premier League manager was keeping Fulham in the league for multiple seasons while he managed the Cottagers.
4. Tom Cairney
Tom Cairney remains the only Fulham player on this list actively playing for the team at the moment. Tom Cairney with 346 caps and counting joined the club in 2015. He was signed from Blackburn Rovers for a £3 million-transfer fee and since then, remains a key man in the squad.
Aged 34, he’s been captain of the side since the 2017/2018 season, constantly showing strong loyalty and leadership.
As a major achievement during his spell, Fulham has secured three promotions to the Premier League. Today, despite his reduced game time, Cairney remains a significant part of the club’s continued success in the English top flight.
3. Clint Dempsey
When Clint Dempsey joined the Craven Cottage in 2007, no one predicted he would make up to 232 appearances. However, he grew and matured into a legend the Cottage would never forget. Dempsey was notorious for being a clinical forward who clinched the team’s top scorer and Player of the Season awards in consecutive seasons in 2011 and 2012.
Dempsey’s role in Fulham’s route to the 2009/10 Europa League final cannot be forgotten in a hurry. His goal in the second leg of the last 16 clash against Juventus was crucial to see the team through to the final. Ultimately he became the first American to appear in a major European final.
Moreover, he boasts of being the leading American goalscorer in Premier League history, finding the back of the net 57 times alongside 19 assists, capping his enduring legacy and noteworthy contributions to the Cottagers.
2. Aleksandar Mitrovic
Aleksandar Mitrovic is regarded as a model footballer for all Fulham fans. He signed a permanent deal with Fulham in the 2017/18 season after an initial loan contract. Mitrovic played five seasons at Craven Cottage from the Championship to Premier League between 2018 and 2023. The Serbian scored up to 111 goals in 206 games, which places him seventh in the club’s all-time scoring charts.
He broke the record for scoring the most goals in the 2011/2012 Championship season. To date, no player has broken that record, and there’s no doubt it will be tough to overturn.
1. Johnny Haynes
After 650 appearances for Fulham Football Club, Johnny Haynes retired in 1970 as a legend who will be remembered for decades. He spent eighteen years playing in the club from 1952 to 1970 after joining as an amateur.
Haynes scored 157 goals and 150 assists for the Cottagers, earning a joint record as the leading all-time appearance maker for the club and all-time goal-scorer. His exploits were enough to make him the first footballer from Britain to earn £100 per week from the game, marking the removal of the 20-pound weekly wage cap.
His loyalty is similarly remarkable, as he stayed with the team through consecutive relegations, promotions, and victories till his retirement in 2005. A statue in honor of Haynes at Craven Cottage is the club’s loudest way of appreciating his contributions to the team.
Other Notable Fulham Football Club Legends
The above five are some of Fulham FC’s biggest names in history. However, there are several other notable players with legendary careers whose careers remain largely memorable in the hearts and minds of Fulham fans. We are talking about giants such as:
- Bobby Robson
- George Cohen
- Gordon Davies
- Alan Mullery
- Bobby Moore
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Conclusion
“The most valuable player is the one who makes the most players valuable.’’ – Peyton Manning.
Every player on this list has left an indelible positive mark on the club, thanks to their longevity of playing experience, accolades, major moments, and of course loyalty to Fulham FC. While Tom Cairney might still have some games to add to his legend, the other stars have reached remarkable feats that already inspire the next generation of younger players to put in their best at the Craven Cottage.
04/07/2025 @ 9:01 pm
I’ve always felt that Johnny Haynes staying at the club became detrimental to the younger players. He overawed them to the extent that they froze around him.