The 2001–02 season was Fulham F.C.'s 104th season of professional football and their first season in the Premier League. They were managed by Jean Tigana, who had also overseen their promotion from the First Division the previous season.
Season summary After the high-profile signings of Juventus goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and Lyon striker Steve Marlet, amongst others, Fulham chairman Mohammed Al-Fayed boasted that the newly promoted side would win the Premiership title. As it was, Fulham never came anywhere near matching the pace set by the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, but the Cottagers still impressed upon their return to the top flight, peaking as high as eighth at one point. The club's good form gave hope to fans that their team could challenge for European qualification either through the league or their FA Cup run, but a run of nine games without a win dragged the club down to 16th with four games left to play and four points between them and 18th-placed Ipswich. Seven points from the club's last four games lifted Fulham to safety in 13th, and, despite the poor league form and elimination from the FA Cup in the semi-finals, Fulham managed to achieve European qualification via the Intertoto Cup.
Final league table
Results Fulham's score comes first
Legend WinDrawLoss
FA Premier League
DateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceScorers 19 August 2001 Manchester UnitedA2–367,534Saha (2) 22 August 2001 SunderlandH2–020,197Hayles, Saha 25 August 2001 Derby CountyH0–015,641 9 September 2001 Charlton AthleticA1–120,451Boa Morte 15 September 2001 ArsenalH1–320,805Malbranque 22 September 2001 Leicester CityA0–018,918 30 September 2001 ChelseaH1–120,197Hayles 14 October 2001 Aston VillaA0–228,579 21 October 2001 Ipswich TownH1–117,221Hayles 27 October 2001 SouthamptonH2–118,771Malbranque (2) 3 November 2001 West Ham UnitedA2–026,217Legwinski, Malbranque 17 November 2001 Newcastle UnitedH3–121,159Saha, Legwinski, Hayles 24 November 2001 Bolton WanderersA0–023,848 2 December 2001 Leeds UnitedH0–020,918 8 December 2001 EvertonH2–019,338Hayles (2) 12 December 2001 LiverpoolA0–037,163 15 December 2001 Tottenham HotspurA0–436,054 26 December 2001 Charlton AthleticH0–017,900 30 December 2001 Manchester UnitedH2–321,159Legwinski, Marlet 2 January 2002 Derby CountyA1–028,165Carbonari (own goal) 12 January 2002 MiddlesbroughH2–118,975Saha, Marlet 19 January 2002 SunderlandA1–145,124Malbranque 30 January 2002 Ipswich TownA0–125,156 2 February 2002 Aston VillaH0–020,041 9 February 2002 Blackburn RoversH2–019,580Hayles, Malbranque 19 February 2002 MiddlesbroughA1–226,235Marlet 23 February 2002 ArsenalA1–438,029Marlet 2 March 2002 LiverpoolH0–221,103 6 March 2002 ChelseaA2–339,744Saha (2, 1 pen) 16 March 2002 EvertonA1–234,639Malbranque 24 March 2002 Tottenham HotspurH0–215,885 30 March 2002 SouthamptonA1–131,616Marlet 1 April 2002 West Ham UnitedH0–119,416 8 April 2002 Newcastle UnitedA1–150,017Saha 20 April 2002 Leeds UnitedA1–039,111Malbranque 23 April 2002 Bolton WanderersH3–018,107Goldbæk, Marlet, Hayles 27 April 2002 Leicester CityH0–021,106 11 May 2002 Blackburn RoversA0–330,487
FA Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR38 January 2002 Wycombe WanderersA2–29,921Legwinski, MarletR3R15 January 2002 Wycombe WanderersH1–011,894HaylesR426 January 2002 York CityA2–07,563Malbranque, MarletR516 February 2002 WalsallA2–18,766Bennett (own goal), Barry HaylesQF10 March 2002 West Bromwich AlbionA1–024,811MarletSF14 April 2002 ChelseaN0–136,147
League Cup
+RoundDateOpponentVenueResultAttendanceGoalscorersR211 September 2001 RochdaleA2–2 (won 6–5 on pens)6,303Boa Morte, BrevettR310 October 2001 Derby CountyH5–29,217Hayles, Legwinski, Collins, Saha, Malbranque (pen)R429 November 2001 Tottenham HotspurH1–217,006Hayles
Players First-team squad Squad at end of season
Left club during season
Reserve squad
Notes:
Transfers
In Date Pos. Name From Fee25 July 2001MF Sean Doherty EvertonUndisclosed1 August 2001GK Edwin van Der Sar JuventusUndisclosed (estimated £7,000,000)1 August 2001DF Abdeslam Ouaddou Nancy£2,000,0002 August 2001MF Steed Malbranque Lyon£5,000,0008 August 2001DF Jon Harley Chelsea£3,500,00022 August 2001MF Sylvain Legwinski Bordeaux£3,300,00029 August 2001FW Steve Marlet Lyon£11,500,000
Luís Boa Morte - Southampton Matt Clarke - Bradford City (loan)
Out Terry Phelan - Sheffield United Paul Peschisolido - Sheffield United Simon Morgan - Brighton and Hove Albion Wayne Collins - Crewe Alexandra Karl-Heinz Riedle - Retired James Bittner Jacopo Galbiati
Player statistics Appearances and goals
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players transferred out during the season
Club Management
Other information
References