The Staggering Fortune Man Utd Have Blown Hiring and Firing Managers

Manchester United's leadership has spent nearly a decade trying to either maintain their grip on English football or reclaim their position at the top.

The club has been nothing short of a shambles since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down in 2013, with brief moments of promise quickly giving way to prolonged decline — a reality that has become all too familiar for the Red Devils.

They're on the verge of naming their eighth permanent manager since Fergie's departure, with Michael Carrick the latest casualty of what has become a poisoned role. A toxic combination of mismanagement and structural dysfunction has fueled United's downfall, leaving a succession of talented coaches unable to revive the club's former standing.

Those at the top have gone to great lengths to land their preferred candidates. Old Trafford's revolving door has proven enormously costly, both in welcoming and parting ways with managers once hailed as the answer to the club's problems.

Here's a breakdown of the compensation United have paid to hire and dismiss managers over the last 13 years.

Man Utd's Compensation Payouts Post-Sir Alex Ferguson

Data sourced from The Telegraph and converted using current exchange rates.

It's worth noting that this figure excludes managerial salaries — United's bosses have consistently ranked among the highest-paid in world football.

These numbers reflect only what it cost United to bring managers in and what they paid out upon letting them go.

Since 2013, United have paid transfer fees for just three managers: Ole Gunnar Solskjær from Molde, Erik ten Hag from Ajax, and Ruben Amorim from Sporting CP. Amorim was the first managerial appointment of the INEOS era, and his buyout clause cost the club a staggering $14.7 million — the tenth-highest fee ever paid to secure a manager at the time.

Amorim then walked away with a $13.4 million settlement when he was dismissed in January 2026, meaning United spent over $28 million on a manager who departed with the worst Premier League win rate in the club's post-Ferguson era.

José Mourinho collected the largest severance package when he was sacked in late 2018 ($26.2 million), while perhaps most remarkably, Ralf Rangnick — brought in on a short-term managerial and long-term consultancy arrangement — walked away with $19.6 million following a dismal 2021–22 campaign.

A break clause in Carrick's contract, signed back in May, means United will only be liable for the remaining portion of his salary through the 2026–27 season ($6.7 million) — the lowest dismissal payout since David Moyes was let go in 2014 ($6.5 million).

Solskjær and Ten Hag together cost over $30 million to hire and release, while Louis van Gaal pocketed $11.2 million upon his departure in 2016.

In total, United have spent roughly $129 million in compensation across eight managerial appointments and dismissals over the past 13 years — more than the $116 million it cost to re-sign Paul Pogba in 2016. They could have signed Andrey Santos at least twice over!

How Much Will it Cost Man Utd to Appoint Michael Carrick's Successor?

United appear set to add to that figure imminently, with USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino emerging as the frontrunner to take charge at Old Trafford following Carrick's exit.

The Red Devils have courted the Argentine on multiple occasions since he transformed Tottenham Hotspur into genuine Premier League title challengers, and now appear ready to finally make their move for the 54-year-old.

Pochettino signed a contract extension with the USMNT following the World Cup, which contains a release clause valued at $10 million. However, United would also need to spend "millions more dollars" to bring along his backroom staff.

Even so, the cost of landing Pochettino is modest compared to what United would face if they pursued Unai Emery, who remains content at Aston Villa. The Spaniard is close to penning a new deal with the Villans, and while no fixed release clause exists in his current contract, reports indicate Villa would demand close to $27 million to let him go — which would rank as the second-most expensive managerial appointment in football history, behind only Bayern Munich's acquisition of Julian Nagelsmann ($29.3 million).

Nagelsmann is also in the frame should the Pochettino pursuit fall through, and since he is currently without a club, no fee would be required. The same applies to Antonio Conte, who parted ways with Napoli at the close of last season.

Although Eddie Howe left Newcastle United over the summer, United would face only a modest compensation fee given the terms of his departure. The relevant clause is due to expire at season's end, but should Howe be appointed during the international break, the record Premier League champions could be looking at a payment of around $4 million.