It’s often said that the most important figure at any football club is the manager, but you wouldn’t think that when you look at the finances involved.
The fees exchanged between clubs when it comes to managers making the switch are a tiny fraction of the astronomical amounts paid for the world’s top players.
But that could be set to change in the coming years, with RB Leipzig holding firm for a record fee for their highly-rated young coach. Here are the five most expensive fees paid for managers in history.
6. Jose Mourinho
Mourinho’s career peaked in 2010 after leading Inter to their first and only Treble. Knocking Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona off their European perch made him extra appealing to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
The biggest name going at the time, the Portuguese coach had masterminded the Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona, which denied Real’s old rivals the opportunity to win the trophy at the Santiago Bernabeu. After Inter’s celebrations, Mourinho stayed in the Spanish capital to sign for the club.
Perez announced Mourinho’s arrival as “this year’s Galactico” – a reasonably-priced one at just €8million.
Sparks were guaranteed to fly.
READ: ‘We’re the best, f*ck you’: The story of Barca & Real’s four Clasicos in 18 days
5. Ruben Amorim
Former Benfica midfielder Amorim, who was capped 14 times for Portugal, went straight into coaching after retiring in his early 30s.
He didn’t need long in charge of Braga (less than three months) to convince Sporting Lisbon to pay out €10million for his signature back in March 2020. He’d miraculously led Braga to 10 wins from his 13 games in charge, but the hasty appointment raised eyebrows across Portugal.
It appears to have been a sound investment, with the coach maintaining his 70%+ win ratio, which sees Sporting top of the Liga NOS and on course for their first league title since 2002.
4. Brendan Rodgers
Rodgers turned his back on the chance to complete a Treble-Treble at Celtic and potentially lead the club to 10 titles in a row when he jumped ship to join Leicester City midway through the 2018-19 season.
The move set Leicester back €10.5million, but the fee has been made to look a bargain as Rodgers transformed the uninspiring unit under Claude Puel into a vibrant side that almost secured Champions League qualification for two years in succession – even if things have gone sour over recent months.
Celtic completed their…
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