Fulham announced on Tuesday that Swedish midfielder Hugo Larsson has joined the club, and that as part of his integration program he will be required to carry a full-size replica of Craven Cottage on his back during every training session, team meeting, and meal. The replica, constructed from plywood and painted to match the riverside facade, weighs 340 kilograms and is mounted on a custom steel frame that Larsson wears like a backpack.
«We want Hugo to feel the weight of the club from day one,» said head coach Marco Silva, standing beside the structure as Larsson completed his first lap of the pitch under the load. «He will learn the dimensions of the ground, the slope of the pitch, and the exact position of the away dressing room door before he ever kicks a ball in anger. It is the only way to guarantee he knows where he is.»
The club has also installed a second replica in the player's apartment, so that Larsson can practice navigating his living room while wearing the structure, and has scheduled a weekly test in which he must walk from the Hammersmith End to the Putney End without stopping. Teammates have been instructed to treat the replica as a permanent fixture, with several already using it as a makeshift changing screen during half-time.
Larsson, who signed from Eintracht Frankfurt, told the club's media channel that he welcomed the challenge. «I came here to play football, but first I must become the stadium,» he said, adjusting the straps. «By the time I am allowed to take it off, I will know every brick personally.» The club has not yet confirmed when the replica will be removed, though a spokesman noted that a second, smaller version is already being prepared for away matches.