The profession of football management is not only high-pressure but also highly lucrative – particularly when a coach is sent packing.
In a sport where results dictate careers, the financial implications of parting ways with a manager can be staggering.
There’s been Premier League meltdowns all the way through to international flops – some of football’s most recognisable names have earned eye-watering sums simply for being shown the door.
Clubs might talk about “long-term projects,” but when the defeats start piling up, patience evaporates, and then the chequebooks come out.
With newly appointed Brentford boss Keith Andrews already the bookmakers’ early favourite to be the first Premier League manager relieved of his duties in the 2025/26 season, let’s dive into the all-time numbers to reveal which bosses have walked away with the heaviest golden handshakes.
The results are, quite frankly, jaw-dropping.
The 10 Most Expensive Managerial Sackings
| Rank | Manager | Year | Club | Known Payout |
| 1 | Antonio Conte | 2018 | Chelsea | £26.6m |
| 2 | José Mourinho | 2018 | Manchester United | £19.6m |
| 3 | José Mourinho | 2007 | Chelsea | £18m |
| 4 | Laurent Blanc | 2016 | Paris Saint-Germain | £17m |
| 5 | José Mourinho | 2021 | Tottenham Hotspur | £15-16m |
| 6 | Erik ten Hag | 2024 | Manchester United | £14.5-15m |
| 7 | Nuno Espírito Santo | 2021 | Tottenham Hotspur | £14m |
| 8 | Luiz Felipe Scolari | 2009 | Chelsea | £13.6m |
| 9 | Fabio Capello | 2015 | Russia (FA) | £13.4m |
| 10 | Thomas Tuchel | 2022 | Chelsea | £13m |
Conte’s Record-Breaking Pay-Off
Antonio Conte’s £26.6 million settlement from Chelsea in July 2018 remains the most expensive managerial exit in football history.
His departure came just a year after winning the Premier League title, but deteriorating relationships with the board and a disappointing league campaign led to his removal.
Chelsea’s decision to sack Conte also triggered a lengthy legal dispute over compensation, which the club eventually had to pay in full.
Mourinho: The Master Of The Golden Handshake
José Mourinho appears three times in the top five – proof that his reputation as both a serial winner and a serial pay-off collector is well earned.
His £19.6 million payout from Manchester United in December 2018 was the costliest single dismissal in the club’s history, while his first Chelsea exit in 2007 earned him around £18 million.
Even his Tottenham departure in 2021 reportedly cost between £15 million and £16 million.
Since the early 2000s, Mourinho has received more than £80 million in severance across various clubs, making him the undisputed king of compensation packages.
His most recent sacking from Roma in early 2024 came with a relatively modest £3 million settlement by his lofty standards.
United’s Costly Managerial Turnover
Manchester United’s post-Sir Alex Ferguson era has been defined by instability in the dugout and hefty pay-offs.
Erik ten Hag’s dismissal in October 2024 cost the club between £14.5 million and £15 million, according to numerous reports.
When combined with previous settlements to Mourinho, Louis van Gaal and David Moyes, United are estimated to have spent around £70 million on severance since 2013.
Other Big Payouts
Laurent Blanc’s £17 million compensation from Paris Saint-Germain in 2016 remains one of the largest in European football.
PSG opted for change despite Blanc winning a domestic treble, illustrating just how little silverware sometimes matters when clubs have their eyes on the Champions League.
Nuno Espírito Santo’s short-lived spell at Tottenham in 2021 ended with a £14 million contract fulfilment after just four months in charge, while Luiz Felipe Scolari and Thomas Tuchel both feature thanks to Chelsea’s well-documented managerial churn.
Fabio Capello also makes the list, collecting £13.4 million when he was relieved of his duties by the Russian Football Union in 2015.
The Managers Who’ve Made The Most From The Sack
Some managers earn their reputations on the pitch, others in the boardroom negotiations, and a select few excel in both landscapes. Here are the all-time leaders in total career severance.
José Mourinho – £80 million+
Chelsea (twice), Manchester United, Tottenham, Real Madrid, Roma – a glittering managerial CV matched only by his knack for leaving with a sizable cheque.
Antonio Conte – £36 million+
Whether at Juventus, Chelsea or Inter Milan, Conte’s combustible nature has often led to partings that come with a high financial cost for his employers.
Mauricio Pochettino – £35 million+
Poch’s dismissals from PSG, Spurs, and Chelsea have all been accompanied by large fees landing in the Argentine’s pockets.
This is despite the reputation he has formed for developing teams and competing at the top level.
Harry Redknapp – £20 million+
A long and varied managerial career has brought Redknapp several high-profile exits, each contributing to a tidy sum in compensation.
Manuel Pellegrini – £15 million+
Quietly but efficiently collected multi-million-pound settlements from stints at West Ham, Manchester City and abroad.
Why Sackings Cost So Much
In elite football, managers often sign long-term contracts worth millions annually.
When clubs decide to terminate those deals early, they are legally obliged to compensate the manager for lost earnings unless a mutual agreement can be reached.
In addition, backroom staff such as assistant coaches, analysts and fitness specialists are often dismissed alongside the manager, further increasing the total cost.
These packages are rarely straightforward, with negotiations sometimes stretching over months, as seen with Conte’s protracted settlement from Chelsea.
The decision to sack a manager is therefore as much a financial risk as it is a sporting one.
The Odds On The Next Premier League Sacking
For those who bet on football, BoyleSports’ current market for the first Premier League managerial departure of the 2025/26 season suggests Keith Andrews is most at risk, with Daniel Farke, Regis Le Bris, Scott Parker and Nuno Espírito Santo also in the danger zone.
| Manager | Odds | Chance |
| Keith Andrews | 7/2 | 22.2% |
| Daniel Farke | 11/2 | 15.4% |
| Regis Le Bris | 6/1 | 14.3% |
| Scott Parker | 6/1 | 14.3% |
| Nuno Espírito Santo | 9/1 | 10% |
Odds are provided by BoyleSports and correct at the time of publication, but are subject to change.
Final Word
The numbers highlight the extraordinary financial realities of modern football.
Players often dominate headlines for their salaries and transfer fees, but the sheer scale of managerial settlements is equally eye-opening, too. In some cases, being sacked can be as profitable, if not more so, than staying in the job.
The decision to part ways is rarely taken lightly by the hierarchy of a club, given the potential hit to the balance sheet.
But in the ruthless world of football, where results matter more than reputations, the cost of doing nothing can sometimes be even greater.
And as the new season unfolds, there will almost certainly be more names and more eye-watering figures to add to this ever-growing list of football’s most expensive mistakes.
