History of Fulham Football Club

Victory Over Defending UEFA Cup Champions Shakhtar Donetsk

18 February 2010 Yet another famous European night at the Cottage! Shakhtar Donetsk of Ukraine, the current UEFA Cup Champions and a side heralded for their flair and skill thanks to their large contingent of Brazilian players, were humbled by Fulham on this desperately cold February night.

Zoltan Gera put the Whites ahead after only three minutes but Luis Fabiano equalised for the visitors on the half hour mark after coolly rounding Mark Schwarzer and tapping into an unguarded net. However, despite Donetsk's South American influenced flair and skill, it was Bobby Zamora who produced a wonder strike from 25 yards after a clever backheel flick on from Gera that settled the first leg, 2-1.

Famous Result in Ukraine As Fulham Knocks Out Holders And Progress To Last 16

25 February 2010 A defensive masterclass led by Brede Hangeland secured a 1-1 draw against reigning Champions Shakhtar Donetsk, which meant Fulham won 3-2 on aggregate and sealed a tie against another European giant in Juventus in the Round of 16. Hangeland headed Fulham in front in the first half and from there the Whites restricted the UEFA Cup holders to long range efforts. A second half equaliser for Donetsk wasn't enough to end Fulham's European campaign.

Away Goal In Turin Gives Fulham Hope Against Juventus

11 March 2010 Juventus prove too strong for the Whites as a flurry of goals in the first half saw the match end 3-1 in the Italian side's favour. Dickson Etuhu scored a vital away goal (pictured) to make it 2-1 and send the large travelling support into pandemonium, but David Trezeguet extended the home side's lead in first-half injury time. However, the scoreline didn't dampen the boisterous and vocal travelling support, with the 2,000 strong Fulham contingent making themselves heard for the entire 90 minutes. Turning over a 3-1 deficit against a side with such European pedigree in a week's time would be no mean feat.

Fulham 4-1 Juventus

18 March 2010 Another historic night at Craven Cottage as Fulham's Europa League journey somehow continued for another round. It seemed all hope was lost after just three minutes when a defensive mix up allowed David Trezeguet to put the visitors ahead, making the score 4-1 on aggregate; both sides with an away goal.

The fightback began just seven minutes later, though, as Zamora chested down Konchesky's cross and converted superbly to drag the Whites back into the tie. The game turned on its head after half an hour when Juventus centre-back and captain Fabio Cannavaro was sent off for denying Zoltan Gera a clear goal scoring opportunity and, just before half-time, Gera scored to put Fulham ahead on the night.

Another Gera goal early in the second-half, this time from the penalty spot, made the aggregate score 4-4. Then with eight minutes remaining, substitute Clint Dempsey ensured the 18th March 2010 would remain one of the most memorable nights in Fulham's history. Receiving the ball on the edge of the box, the American forward chipped Antonio Chimenti in the Juventus goal and the ball floated into the opposite corner. Over 25,000 people crammed into a packed Craven Cottage went ballistic.

The full-time whistle came soon after and the most incredible and unlikely of comebacks was complete. Fulham had knocked out Juventus to go through to the Quarter-Finals of the Europa League. The journey continued.

Advantage Fulham In Quarter-Final against German Champions Wolfsburg

1 April 2010 Goals from Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff gave Fulham a 2-1 advantage over Wolfsburg after the First Leg of the Europa League Quarter-Final at Craven Cottage. An injury time goal for the visitors dampened the mood ahead of the return leg in Germany, but a solid victory over the German champions was hugely impressive nonetheless.

Fulham Do The Double Over Wolfsburg And Advance to Europa League Semi-Final

8 April 2010 A first minute goal from Bobby Zamora ensured another victory over the reigning Bundesliga Champions Wolfsburg, a 3-1 aggregate score and a path into the Europa League Semi-Final. No one could have predicted the Whites venturing this far into the competition but we were determined to enjoy every moment.

After the early goal, Fulham never looked in danger of losing the tie and there were only two games against Hamburger SV standing between the Cottagers and their first ever European final.

First Leg Of Europa League Semi-Final ends 0-0

22 April 2010 A solid defensive display at the Imtech Arena against Hamburg in the First Leg of the Europa League Semi-Final saw us in the driving seat for the return leg at Craven Cottage. As the venue for the Final was also Hamburg's home ground, the travelling Fulham supporters were heard confidently singing "We'll be back in two weeks' time" throughout the match.

Fulham 2-1 Hamburger SV: History Is made As Fulham Reach first Ever Major European Final

29 April 2010 After 18 games spanning over 10 months, history is made as Fulham Football Club reaches the UEFA Europa League Final.

1-0 down after Mladen Petric scored a curling free kick for the visitors on the half hour mark, things looked ominous for the Whites at half-time. But a stirring fightback, led by a packed Craven Cottage singing "stand up if you still believe", meant Hamburg would host the final but Fulham would play in it.

Simon Davies equalised with a superbly taken goal, but Hamburg were still going through on away goals at that stage. Then, in the 76th minute, Zoltan Gera wrote himself into Fulham folklore by prodding in the winner from a corner kick and sent Fulham to our first ever major European final.

2010 UEFA Europa League Final

12 May 2010 Fulham FC vs Atletico Madrid: Heartbreak at the final hurdle. Although we fought until the end, the final was a game that just didn't go Fulham's way. Diego Forlan put the Spanish side ahead, but the ever reliable Simon Davies equalised for us before half-time to send 15,000+ Whites fans into raptures.

There were chances for both sides but neither was able to break the deadlock and the game moved into extra-time. By this point we had played 1,710 minutes to get this far - that's over 28 hours of football - so we weren't going to give up! But there was late heartbreak as, in the 116th minute of extra-time, Diego Forlan struck again for Atletico Madrid to seal the winner. For the Fulham fans, what sticks in the memory is not losing the final but rather the unforgettable journey that took us there.

An Incredible Journey

May 2010 18 matches, seven different countries (two of them twice, and one for a third time for the upcoming Final!) and endless drama. We knocked out the reigning Champions, the German Bundesliga Champions, two Italian and European giants, and made every team on the continent sit up and take notice of Fulham Football Club. The Crowning Glory was to elude us, but it was one of the most exciting and memorable campaigns Fulham had ever undertaken.

Mousa Dembélé Signs For Fulham

August 2010 Mark Hughes' marquee summer signing was Belgium international Mousa Dembele, a pacy and skilful midfielder from Dutch Eredivisie side AZ Alkmaar.

Roy Hodgson Leaves And Mark Hughes Named New Fulham Manager

August 2010 After Hodgson's departure to Liverpool, Mark Hughes was appointed the Club's new Manager and took charge of the team for the 2010/11 season.

We've Got Bairdinho!

28 December 2010 Chris Baird scored two screamers at the Britannia Stadium against Stoke to give the Whites our first away win of the season, with the game finishing 2-0.