Mohamed Al Fayed’s glorious tenure as Chairman of Fulham Football Club began in 1997 when Fulham were on the brink of obscurity. Racked with debt and residing at the foot of the English football league the Club required a saviour. Following his takeover of the Club, Mohamed Al Fayed promised the fans a return to the top-flight of English football within five years and a remarkable turnaround in the Club’s fortunes commenced.
Mohamed Al Fayed’s Fulham blazed a trail through the lower divisions and by 2001 the Whites secured their place amongst the elite, securing their place in the Premier League with a record-breaking points tally as Champions of Division 1.
Fulham’s success under Al Fayed’s stewardship has been mirrored by the development of the Club off the pitch. A stunning Training Ground in Surrey provides the team’s management and staff with state of the art facilities and The Chairman’s redevelopment of Craven Cottage has provided the fans with a home to be proud of in an exquisite Thames side setting.
Despite his considerable business interests the Chairman retains a hands on approach to Fulham and demonstrated his intuitive decision making once again in January 2008, installing Roy Hodgson as Manager as Fulham teetered on the brink of relegation. The Whites went on to record a stunning run of results and secure their top flight future against the odds. Under the Chairman’s command Fulham reached the UEFA Europa League Final in 2010 and a magnificent eighth place finish in 2011. Ahead of the 2011/12 campaign Al Fayed made another astute managerial appointment in the form of Martin Jol, who guided Fulham to ninth place in the Barclays Premier League last season.
The Chairman’s commitment to Fulham Football Club remains as strong as ever and all interests in the company continue to be controlled and held for the benefit of the Fayed family. It is impossible to say where the Club would be now without Mohamed Al Fayed, but it’s equally impossible to imagine that any alternative realistic scenario could have brought more joy and progress over the past 13 years.
Read more from the Chairman at alfayed.com|