Bassey credits Silva for career turnaround.

Fulham defender Calvin Bassey has praised manager Marcos Silva for his transformation, describing himself as an exciting centre-back who isn’t afraid to push forward with the ball. The Nigeria international, who was named Fulham’s player of the season for the 2024/25 season, spoke confidently about his playing style at the Forest Gate Youth Centre to launch his CB3 initiative. “I am an exciting centre-back. I’m a centre-back who prefers to attack. I’m going to dribble once in a while. My manager accepts it and understands who I am. “I want my presence to be felt on the pitch, both on and off the ball,” Bassey stated.

The 25-year-old’s second season at Craven Cottage proved to be a watershed moment, as he appeared in all but three Premier League games while assisting his team’s push for European qualification.

Despite missing out on Europa League qualification, Bassey remained philosophical about the season’s results. “It wasn’t about winning personal awards or being named Player of the Season. “It was simply about doing better than I did last season, and I believe I was able to do so,” he told Sky Sports. The defender attributed his transformation to manager Marco Silva’s unwavering support and tactical decision to move him from right-sided centre-back to his natural left-side position.

“I don’t consider my form to be redemption. “The most important thing for me was having the manager’s trust,” Bassey explained. Bassey gave Silva special praise, describing him as one of the Premier League’s most underrated managers. “I believe he is overlooked as one of the league’s best managers. He is one of the best Premier League managers, and I have no doubt that in a few years he will be right at the top,” he stated. The Calvin Bassey Collective, which was founded at the Forest Gate Youth Centre where the defender once attended as a youth, aims to provide opportunities for the next generation in his community.

“I was one of these kids once, and I just want to show them that if me, just a normal kid from Forest Gate, can come out, you can make it out as well,” Bassey told the audience. Looking ahead to the new season, the attack-minded centre-back has set lofty personal goals, aiming for “five goals, minimum” to improve on his previous season’s total of two goals.

“I was one of these kids once, and I just want to show them that if me, just a normal kid from Forest Gate, can come out, you can make it out as well,” Bassey told the audience.

Looking ahead to the new season, the attack-minded centre-back has set lofty personal goals, aiming for “five goals, minimum” to improve on his previous season’s total of two goals.

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