Manchester United spent almost €130 million on coaches — more than any single signing

Manchester United are closing in on the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino as their new head coach, a move that comes as Michael Carrick prepares to leave after 11 months in charge following his January takeover from Ruben Amorim.

Supporters remain intensely critical not of Carrick personally but of the Glazer family and the club's ownership and management structure, frequently booing the board at matches and demanding change. Recent reporting has reinforced the view that United’s sporting policy has been drifting for years.

Coaching hires and exits: the numbers

Since Sir Alex Ferguson left, Manchester United have spent almost €130 million on appointing and paying off coaches. The tally covers hiring fees, buyout clauses and severance payments tied to a long list of managers and their backroom teams.

The chain of exit and recruitment began with David Moyes, who chose not to keep Ferguson’s coaching team; roughly €3 million was paid for those departures, while Moyes and his own staff cost the club about €5.5 million in total.

José Mourinho and his backroom staff were by far the most expensive package at €23.47 million, and Ralf Rangnick with his team cost €17.6 million. The combined tab for Louis van Gaal, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Erik ten Hag and sporting director Dan Ashworth amounts to €16.76 million.

Mauricio Pochettino’s arrival is also reflected in the figures: his release clause is €8.86 million. Altogether the sum reaches the near-€130 million mark — a number greater than anything United have ever paid for a single player. The club’s record signing remains Paul Pogba, for whom €105 million was paid in 2017.

On the pitch the results this season underline the concern: United have registered only three wins in 15 matches across all competitions, an insufficient return for a club of their stature as they prepare to hand the job to Pochettino.

Photo: press material from the event