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- Jose Mourinho is the second-most backed football manager in history
- The highest-spending has splashed almost double the cash of some top bosses
- Kevin De Bruyne is brilliant, but he’s not the best. Chris Sutton names his top five Premier League midfielders on It’s All Kicking Off
Jose Mourinho has spent a whopping £1.6billion on transfer throughout his career – but that doesn’t come close to the highest-spending manager of all time.
The Portuguese tactician has been sacked by Roma despite requesting a new contract, with the club sitting ninth and off to their worst start in Serie A since 2002/03.
Mourinho has managed some of the biggest clubs in the world and therefore some with the loosest purse strings.
A £100million outlay on Paul Pogba and a £75m splurge on Romelu Lukaku at Manchester United are his two priciest purchases, but he has also spent lavish sums with Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, and Tottenham.
His spending at Roma was more pared back and his all-time career cheque book is second only to one man.
Jose Mourinho is the second highest-spending manager of all time, having splashed out £1.6billion on players
Pep Guardiola holds the distinction of being the most financially backed manager ever. he has spent £1.76bn, winning 36 trophies
That man is none other than Pep Guardiola, who has dropped an enormous £1.76bn on the transfer market while managing Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Manchester City.
That’s a couple of world-class signings more than Mourinho – in a shorter managerial career, as well.
Transfermarkt keeps a running record of how much money is spent by managers over their careers.
Beneath Guardiola and Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti has spent a gargantuan £1.46bn, taking the reins at the likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Juventus, and PSG.
That has delivered him an impressive 25 titles – including four Champions League crowns – though Mourinho has won 27 and Guardiola has bagged 36.
In fourth, Massimiliano Allegri has spent £1.22bn in a career which has stayed in Italy, peaking with Juventus and AC Milan at the top of the domestic tree.
Rounding out the top five is Diego Simeone, who has splashed £1.04bn, most of which has come at Atletico Madrid, though he also managed clubs in Argentina and Italy.
Mauricio Pochettino has spent £990million but only won three trophies after such an outlay
Jurgen Klopp has delivered a return of 12 trophies after spending £973m with Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, and Mainz
Two current Premier League bosses squeeze into the top 10: Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp.
Pochettino has forked out £990million across his stints with the likes of Tottenham, PSG, and Chelsea, but has only won three trophies – a Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophee des Champions in France with PSG.
Klopp budges his way into the top 10 after an investment of £973m – most often on players that work out – and has achieved a strong return of 12 trophies.
