Born: West Ham, 4 April 1964
Position: Right back; centre back
International caps: 19
International goals: 0
Signed: 1 August 1981 (apprentice)
Fulham debut: Reading 0-3 Fulham, 20 January 1982
Fulham appearances: 185
Fulham goals: 3
Sold: 18 June 1987 to Queens Park Rangers (£300,000)
Paul Parker quickly established himself in Fulham’s first team squad in 1982 after coming through club’s youth system. Comfortable either at right back or centre back and with remarkable recovery pace and outstanding aerial ability, he became a regular in 1983/84. Having made more than 180 appearances, he was one of the casualties of the Fulham Park Rangers saga with his share of a double sale that saw the England under-21 international move to Loftus Road with Dean Coney helping a new consortium form the Fulham Football Club 1987 entity that safeguarded Fulham’s future.
Parker also appeared destined for the top and looked immediately at home in the top flight, winning nineteen senior international caps, including playing in the 1990 World Cup where Sir Bobby Robson’s side were beaten on penalties by West Germany in the semi-final. He moved to Manchester United for £2m in 1991 and won the Premier League title in 1992/93 and a League Cup double the following year. He returned fleetingly to Craven Cottage in January 1997 but failed to fit into Micky Adams’ close-knit side, departing after only three appearances. He now works for MUTV and more widely as a football pundit.
