Apparently, football clubs spend a lot of money during transfer windows. With the summer window approaching its tail end, perhaps reviewing the 10 highest-spending managers since 2000 will help widen our knowledge of the billion-dollar industry.
One of the managers that have spent over a billion euros on transfers is Jose Mourinho, the Portuguese have managed some of the top European clubs. One of the iconic signings is that of Paul Pogba for about €105m.
The Top 10 Highest-spending Managers Since 2000
Unai Emery
- Total number of players signed – 73
- Total amount spent on transfer – €846m
Emery’s transition from Sevilla to Paris St-Germain to Arsenal and finally at Villareal have guaranteed him the opportunity to spend quite a huge sum in the transfer market.
Ernesto Valverde
- Total number of players signed – 53
- Total amount spent on transfer – €864.13m
Valverde has signed a total number of 53 players in his career as a football manager. Some of his renowned signings include Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho which sums up to about €400 million.
Arsene Wenger
- Total number of players signed – 85
- Total amount spent on transfer – €892.47m
Wenger signed 85 players during his time as a football manager. His long-term coaching spree at Arsenal saw him buying players, over and over again for the Arsenal squad. His most expensive signing is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang which came shortly before his contract with the club was terminated.
Antonio Conte
- Total number of players signed – 84
- Total amount spent on transfer – €944m
The Italian boss has made a couple of signings with Chelsea, Inter Milan and Juventus. He has signed a lot of players.
Diego Simeone
- Total number of players signed – 68
- Total amount spent on transfer – €985m
Simeone is one of the best managers in the last 2 decades. He has proved that the enormous amount he has spent in the transfer window is really worth it, he lifted the 2020-21 La Liga title.
Max Allegri
- Total number of players signed – 96
- Total amount spent on transfer – €1.06bn
Allegri initiated the Cristiano Ronaldo deal that saw the Portuguese star move from Real Madrid to Turin at a fee of €120m.
Manuel Pellegrini
- Total number of players signed – 88
- Total amount spent on transfer – €1.16bn
Pellegrini has some renowned transfers that he will ever be remembered for. He is the manager that signed Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid from Manchester United; also he signed Kevin De Bruyne at Manchester City.
Carlo Ancelotti
- Total number of players signed – 88
- Total amount spent on transfer – €1.37bn
Ancelotti has managed some of the biggest clubs in the world. Apparently, he has spent a lot of money while at each of these clubs – Chelsea, Real Madrid, Paris St-Germain, Bayern Munich and AC Milan.
Pep Guardiola
- Total number of players signed – 67
- Total amount spent on transfer – €1.59bn
Guardiola is one of the best football managers in modern-day soccer. He has spent quite a large sum of money in the transfer market. Perhaps it is because he has managed some of the biggest clubs in Europe such as Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
Jose Mourinho
- Total number of players signed – 104
- Total amount spent on transfer – €1.76bn
Mourinho is renowned for his tactical decisions not just on the pitch but also in the transfer market. He once spent about €30m to sign 22 players. Also, he spent €105m to sign Paul Pogba at Manchester United which is by far the most expensive for the Portuguese manager.
The Top 10 Highest-spending Managers Since 2000 – Table
| Rank | Manager | Signings | Total Fee |
| 1 | Jose Mourinho | 104 | €1.76bn |
| 2 | Pep Guardiola | 67 | €1.59bn |
| 3 | Carlo Ancelotti | 88 | €1.37bn |
| 4 | Manuel Pellegrini | 88 | €1.16bn |
| 5 | Max Allegri | 96 | €1.06bn |
| 6 | Diego Simeone | 68 | €985m |
| 7 | Antonio Conte | 84 | €944m |
| 8 | Arsene Wenger | 85 | €892.47m |
| 9 | Ernesto Valverde | 53 | €864.13m |
| 10 | Unai Emery | 73 | €846m |
Leave a Reply