One magical summer: Fulham sign Steed Malbranque

The diminutive midfielder quickly established himself as a core cog in our Premier League machine.

Credit: IMAGO/BSR Agency

STEEEEEEEEED!

The chant quickly became a mainstay of the Hammersmith End, and indeed all of Craven Cottage, after Belgium-born France U21 inernational Steed Malbranque signed in August 2001.

The Whites were one of many clubs after the zippy midfielder, who’d built quite reputation a Lyon, becoming a regular in Ligue 1 and in European competitions having made his debut as an 18 year old.

Malbranque was no stranger to Fulham’s management team. Jean Tigana’s assistant Christian Damiano coached him in France’s U18 side, where Steed wore the captain’s armband.

So it wasn’t surprising when we activated a clause in his Lyon contract that allowed him to leave if a club paid £4.5m and he became our third signing of the summer. It wasn’t an insigificant fee - in fact, if Edwin Van Der Sar’s move from Juventus had been ratified a tad later, it would’ve been our record transfer fee at the time.

Perhaps it was a blessing that it wasn’t, as Steed was able to hit the ground running, unincumbered by any financial millstone around his neck.

Two assists in his first two games set the tone for his stay in SW6. And it took Steed just six games to get off the mark in white, pulling us level against Arsenal at Craven Cottage. Two late goals by the Gunners meant his strike was in vein, but it was the first of 10 goals in 46 appearances - a fantastic return in his maiden campaign.

The following season was even better for the attacking midfielder, with 13 goals in 55 appearances, including a hot streak of eight in six games. It was little wonder that for the majority of his five-year stay he was subject to the advances of so many Premier League rivals, from Liverpool to Manchester City.

Eventually, it was Spurs who prized Malbranque from our grasp, in 2006. With his contract up a year later, Steed said he’d be happy to run it down and leave for nothing, forcing manager Chris Coleman to whack him on the transfer list. We recouped £2m, but with 44 goals in 211 appearances, it’s safe to say he more than justified his fee.

More than that, he became a cult hero. From his iconic chant, to his style of play, characterised by his speed and trickery, Steed was loved by the Fulham fanbase and was one of the main characters of the first five years of our Premier League stay.

There were more injections of youth to come for Fulham during the summer of 2001. Our next signing wouldn’t be as successful as Malbranque - but you can’t hit a home run every time…