Exclusive: ‘It was very hard for me’ – Denis Odoi lifts lid on Fulham exit

BY ALESSANDRO SCHIAVONE

Fulham legend Denis Odoi lifted the lid on his Fulham exit.

The versatile Belgian-born Ghanaian international spent five-and-a-half years in west London before sealing a move to Club Bruges in January 2022 as the club was closing in on yet another top-flight return.

A top performer in the Championship, Odoi regularly found the going extremely tough a division higher.

And despite helping the club to back-to-back promotions in 2018 and 2020 respectively, Odoi admitted that yet another stint in the Premier League wilderness would have been a disappointment too far.

He told the South London Press: “I was playing [at the time] and the offer came very last-minute.

“I had to make the decision and Bruges gave me one extra year. 

“Obviously with the next year going to the Premier League, the previous two years there were very hard. 

“So then I preferred to leave, but it was very hard for me because, as I said, for me, it was the best moment of my life living in London and playing for Fulham.”

Asked if the winning goal against Derby County in the play-off semi-final six years ago was the professional summit of his life in the capital he said: “For me personally, yes. 

“But Wembley finals and those things were always great. But Derby County was for me the height of my career at Fulham. 

“Just overall it was a very nice period for me, it was the best period of my life until now.”

Odoi, 36, also lavished praise on Marco Silva for helping Fulham get rid of their notorious yo-yo tag that tormented them during his London days.

He said: “I am very happy because there are still a lot of people that I know. I worked with the coach as well and there are still a lot of players (left) like Tim Ream, Harrison, Kenny and I am very happy for them that for the second year straight they stayed in the Premier League. Fulham are doing very well.”

Leaving the club was tough mentally but it inevitably paid dividends for the veteran full-back as Club Bruges lifted two Belgian titles in 30 months, along with a domestic Super Cup.

Odoi, who joined Royal Antwerp this summer, said: “I am very happy especially with the ending of last season. 

“For me it wasn’t easy but you know if you go to Bruges it’s to play for titles and for prizes. 

“That’s another reason why I made a move from Fulham because I was very happy there. I went to Bruges because I knew it was a big club playing for prizes.

“When you go to Bruges it’s to win titles and I won two leagues in three years, very happy with that.”

So can his ex-club keep growing and eventually push for European places, 14 years after reaching the UEFA Cup final?

Odoi added: “One day they can, Fulham have done it in the past. I wish them all the best.”