In this article we look at some of the most expensive transfers of managers between clubs
Julian Nagelsmann
RB Leipzig to Bayern Munich for £21.7 million
This is ongoing, he is without doubt one of the best managers in the world, definitely in the bundesliga
he won his first title as a coach in Bayern’s 3-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund in the 2021 DFL-Supercup. On 23 April 2022, he won his second title, his first Bundesliga title.
His current record is 49 games, won 35 drew 7 lost 7 – I expect them to win the Bundesliga, he will judged on the Champions league
André Villas-Boas
Porto to Chelsea for £13.3 million
On paper this looked a good move, he had come from Porto the same path as José Mourinho and Chelse paid a huge fee fro his services.
He lost to Liverpool in a 2–0 defeat in the League Cup quarter-final.
But for a Champions League match against Napoli he left Frank Lampard, Michael Essien and Ashley Cole on the bench. Chelsea lost 3–1 and questions were asked. Then they fell behind Arsenal for 4th place and he was sacked.
His record was Played 40 won 19 drew 11 lost 10
Brendan Rodgers
Celtic to Leicester City for £9 million
He had gone to Celtic to resurrect his managerial career – he won 7 trophies in a row
In his first full season, Rodgers guided Leicester to fifth place and therefore qualifying for the UEFA Europa League group stage
On 15 May 2021, he led Leicester City to win the first FA Cup title in their history, after a 1–0 win over Chelsea in the final
He has played 170 and has won 81 drawn 38 and lost 51 so far. A good manager who has done well but there is a feeling that his time at Leicester may be coming at an end – the team not building to move on.
José Mourinho
Inter Milan to Real Madrid for £6.8 million
Real Madrid spent a lot of money trying to compete with barcelona and that was the constant thorn in his side when he was at Madrid
He won La Liga in 2011–12 and the Copa del Rey in 2010–11
Real Madrid reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for third consecutive years but failed to get through to the final every time
He managed 178 teams and won 128 drew 28 lost 22 – he always seemed to be at the centre of controversy and although won a couple of trophies for the money he was a disappointment, a sign of things to come.
Mark Hughes
Blackburn Rovers to Manchester City for £5 million
He was signed before the current owners of Man City, they then made lots of money available and Robinho was signed, hmmmm
City finished tenth in Hughes’s first season with the club, as well as reaching the quarter-finals of the UEFA Cup
That last victory was one of only two wins in 11 successive Premier League matches; he was sacked on 19 December 2009 and replaced by Roberto Mancini.
He played 77 and won 36 drew 16 and lost 25.
Brendan Rodgers
Swansea City to Liverpool for £5 million
Signed after getting Swansea promoted and doing very well in the Premier league
Liverpool finished in seventh position in the Premier League in his first season in charge, one position higher than the previous season
At the start of the 2013–14 season, Liverpool ended the season as Premier League runners-up, two points behind champions Manchester City – the closest he got to reclaiming the league title.
On 4 October 2015, Rodgers was sacked, leaving Liverpool in tenth place after eight matches played.
He played 166 agmes and won 83 drew 41 lost 42 – he failed to win any trophies at Liverpool
Ronald Koeman
Southampton to Everton for £5 million
He was signed after leading Southampton to their highest ever finish
On 14 June 2016, Koeman was confirmed as manager of Everton, signing a three-year contract. In his first season, Koeman led Everton to qualification for the Europa League.
The next season it started to unravel, Prior to the 2017–18 season, Koeman was given an estimated £150 million was spent on new players, but failedto replace Romelu Lukaku, who was sold to Man Utd
Koeman was sacked by the club on 23 October 2017, after his side fell into the relegation zone, following a 2–5 home defeat against Arsenal the previous day.
His record was played 58 won 24 drew 14 lost 20 – again initial moderate success that led to big spending. A sign of things to come at Everton.
Marco Silva
Watford to Everton for £4 million
He was at Watford who were playing well but Everton started supposedly chasing him up and Watfords form dipped badly.
Silva was dismissed by Watford on 21 January 2018 and became manager of Everton on 31 May 2018
His first season at Goodison Park ended with an eighth-place finish.
Silva was sacked on 5 December 2019, after a 5–2 defeat to city rivals Liverpool which left the team in 18th place
Played 60 games and had 24 wins 12 draws 24 defeats – he did not manage to take Everton further
José Mourinho
Porto to Chelsea for £1.7 million
This is probably the best money that Roman Abramovich ever spent.
Mourinho left Chelsea on 20 September 2007 “by mutual consent”, although there had been a series of disagreements with owner Abramovic which was the main reason.
In his first spell he played 185 and has won 124 drew 40 and lost 21.
Steve Cooper
Swansea City to Nottingham Forest for £1.2 million
Cooper was appointed head coach of Championship club Nottingham Forest on 21 September 2021. At this point Nottingham Forest were bottom of the division.
On 29 May 2022, Cooper led Nottingham Forest to gain promotion to the Premier League after a 1–0 win over Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final at Wembley Stadium
For the money paid this is probably one of the biggest transformations of a club and has led the club to the riches of the Premier League
