Monday Fulham Stuff (28/12/15)...

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New Fulham boss has 'passion' to turn Whites into a force again

Slavisa Jokanovic (Photo by Ian Walton/Getty Images)

Fulham's laborious managerial hunt has come to an end after Slavisa Jokanovic agreed to become head coach.

It is 49 days since the west Londoners sacked Kit Symons, having grown frustrated by their inconsistent Sky Bet Championship form.

The process to replace him has been fraught with challenges but, after Peter Grant and then Stuart Gray took temporary charge, the club have belatedly announced that they have agreed to bring Jokanovic from Maccabi Tel Aviv as head coach.

The news came minutes after the Israeli league leaders won 5-0 at home to Hapoel Kiryat Shmona and means the former Serbia international returns to English football after just six months away.

Jokanovic last season led Watford to automatic promotion to the Premier League, only to leave Vicarage Road after talks over a new deal collapsed.

Press Association Sport understands the 47-year-old has been on Fulham's shortlist to succeed Symons from the outset so, after a long and uncomfortable period without a manger, owner Shahid Khan was understandably pleased to make the appointment.

"I am extremely proud to announce that Slavisa Jokanovic will be joining Fulham as our First Team Head Coach," he said in a statement.

"We considered many quality candidates for what we considered to be one of the best positions in football, and I personally interviewed most of them.

"While the search was time-consuming and painstaking at times, I knew that when the process was complete that Fulham would have the best man possible for this opportunity and challenge.

"Slavisa's credentials and passion for the job rose to the top through every stage of this process, and we cannot wait to welcome him to Motspur Park and Craven Cottage to get things going in the right direction for the second half of the season."


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