Every top manager who cashed in after being sacked, ranked

Football clubs are accustomed to paying enormous transfer fees for players, but a hidden expense often comes on the touchline. When ownership loses patience, sacking a manager can trigger multi-year contract payouts delivered in one costly stroke. These settlements, filed away in accounts as “mutual agreements” or “exceptional items,” frequently rival the price of a marquee signing. They also reveal the leverage top managers now command in the modern game.

Over the last two decades, some of the sport’s most recognizable figures have walked away with staggering sums, not for winning, but for leaving.

The managers who turned sackings into paydays

Antonio Conte – Chelsea, 2018 – ~$33 million

Conte holds the record for the largest single payout in football history. Chelsea dismissed him just a year after he lifted the Premier League title, ultimately paying more than $33 million once legal and staff settlements were included. The sheer scale of the payment shocked many supporters.

José Mourinho – multiple clubs – nearly ~$120 million career total

Mourinho may not own the record for one single payoff, but his lifetime total is unmatched. He received about $25 million from Manchester United in 2018, roughly $22 million from Real Madrid in 2013, about $20 million across two exits at Chelsea, close to $19 million from Tottenham in 2021, plus additional payouts from Roma and Fenerbahçe. Over time, his sackings have collectively brought him nearly $120 million, earning him a reputation for turning dismissals into profit.

Laurent Blanc – Paris Saint‑Germain, 2016 – ~$21.5 million

Blanc dominated the French domestic scene, winning 11 trophies in three years, yet PSG still paid around $21.5 million to part ways with him after repeated Champions League disappointments. French outlets described it as an expensive divorce of convenience.

Erik ten Hag – Manchester United & Bayer Leverkusen, 2024–2025 – ~$30 million combined

Manchester United first sacked ten Hag in late 2024 despite having recently extended his contract through 2026. That dismissal cost about $18.3 million, including staff compensation. Less than a year later, Leverkusen dismissed him after only eight league games, paying an estimated $12 million with his contract running until 2027. Combined, his two exits in 12 months added up to roughly $30 million, making him one of the era’s most costly managerial departures.

Nuno Espírito Santo – Tottenham, 2021 – ~$17.7 million

Nuno lasted just four months at Spurs. However, his severance package totaled $18 million. The size of the payoff for such a brief stint underscored how risky short-term appointments can be for clubs.

Luiz Felipe Scolari – Chelsea, 2009 – ~$17.2 million

Scolari spent only seven months at Chelsea, yet the club paid out approximately $17.2 million upon his dismissal. The then-record severance reinforced Chelsea’s reputation for impatience and high managerial costs.

Fabio Capello – Russia national team, 2015 – ~$17 million

Capello’s severance was striking because it involved a national federation. Following a poor World Cup and faltering Euro qualifying campaign, Russia paid about $17 million to release him. Analysts noted the figure exceeded the yearly football budgets of some smaller federations.

Thomas Tuchel – Chelsea, 2022 – ~$16.4 million

Despite guiding Chelsea to a Champions League crown in 2021, Chelsea dismissed Tuchel in 2022. Ironically, his severance of around $16.4 million was paltry compared with the club’s wider spending.

Mauricio Pochettino – Tottenham, 2019 – ~$15.8 million

Just months after leading Spurs to a Champions League final, Pochettino was dismissed, costing the club about $15.8 million. He later collected another major payoff from PSG, placing him firmly among those whose exits were nearly as lucrative as their achievements.