The Eye-Watering Fortunes Man Utd Have Blown Firing Managers Since Sir Alex Ferguson Left

Manchester United's journey to move beyond the iconic era of Sir Alex Ferguson has proven expensive in sporting, emotional, and purely financial terms.

Michael Carrick becomes the club's seventh permanent managerial appointment in the 13 years following Ferguson's retirement, and the contract he signed reflects the damage left by those who came before him. Unlike the three-year deals afforded to all of his immediate predecessors, Carrick was handed a more cautious 24-month agreement, with the possibility of an additional year.

Given that the combined cost of terminating those previous contracts has now edged close to $100 million, a degree of caution is entirely understandable.

Ruben Amorim became the latest expensive casualty of the bleak post-Ferguson period. Following 14 months of underwhelming performances driven by baffling tactical choices, the Portuguese manager was dismissed in January. Reports at the time indicated that a clause in Amorim's contract barred Manchester United from offering any "discounted" settlement, meaning he was entitled to the full 18 months remaining on his deal.

United's most recent financial accounts have confirmed that Amorim and his backroom staff received $22.4 million (£16.7 million) in compensation. That total could reportedly increase further should Amorim remain unemployed throughout the entire 2026–27 season, which is understood to be his current intention.

How Much Man Utd Have Spent on Firing Managers Since Sir Alex Ferguson

* Figures converted to dollars at the time of publication.

Amorim was merely the latest in a lengthy series of costly departures. Since Ferguson stepped down in 2013, the Red Devils have paid out approximately $99.9 million in compensation to six permanent managers and their respective coaching staffs. To place that staggering figure in perspective, United have only paid a higher transfer fee for three players throughout the club's entire history.

In Amorim's case, there is the additional complication of what it cost to prise the highly coveted coach away from his Sporting CP contract at the outset of the 2024–25 season. Amorim had originally preferred to wait until the end of the campaign before joining the struggling club, but United were impatient and willing to spend $14.8 million to buy out his Sporting agreement.

The same decision-makers who oversaw Amorim's ill-fated tenure also chose to hand Erik ten Hag a new contract just 116 days before sacking him. That decision cost United $19.5 million.

Nevertheless, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his team of executives are far from the only ones to have misjudged managerial appointments at Manchester United. The previous regime under the controversial Ed Woodward was responsible for the most expensive dismissal in the club's history. José Mourinho personally received $20.2 million, while his coaching staff were handed an additional $6.2 million when he was shown the door midway through a characteristically turbulent third season.

Expectations are greater for Carrick. But even if this once again turns out to be another false start, steps have already been taken to ensure United are not left quite so financially exposed in the future.