Man United’s revolving dugout pushes managerial bill beyond £100m

Manchester United's frequent managerial changes have pushed their spending on hiring and firing managers and senior staff beyond £100 million since Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013, according to British media calculations. The club will pay around £7.4 million to release Mauricio Pochettino from his contract with the United States national team, while dismissing Michael Carrick and his backroom staff could cost an additional £5 million.

Securing the release of Pochettino's assistants from their contracts may further increase the bill. Carrick's departure, which occurred less than six months after he signed a two-year contract in May, is estimated to have cost £5 million. The £100 million figure is an estimate, not an exact figure, and includes sporting directors in addition to managers.

The Telegraph calculated that Pochettino's appointment and Carrick's dismissal pushed United's spending on hiring and dismissing senior staff to over £108 million. Ruben Amorim's release from his contract with United cost €11 million ($12 million), while his subsequent dismissal in January 2026, just 14 months into his tenure, incurred a one-off cost of £8.2 million.

United's accounts show that dismissing Erik ten Hag and his staff cost £10.4 million, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's departure cost £9.1 million. The newspaper also estimated that Ralf Rangnick's departure, including his staff and other changes to the football operation, cost £14.7 million. Jose Mourinho's dismissal in 2018 cost £19.6 million, while Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's departure two years earlier cost £9.1 million.

Additionally, United paid Ajax £1.6 million to appoint Ten Hag and his assistant Mitchell van der Gaag and about £1 million to Molde when Solskjaer became manager. The club also spent around £1 million to hire sporting director Dan Ashworth from Newcastle United, who was later dismissed five months later. Pochettino's arrival has added another substantial sum to the cost of 13 years of managerial upheaval as United seek the stability that characterized Ferguson's reign.