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The world of football has witnessed some brilliant managers since the inception of the game. While they differ in their style of management, every manager requires reinforcements from the transfer market to build a team that suits their style of play. Even with the influx of talents from the youth system, one cannot deny that the transfer window plays a pivotal role in deciding the success and failure of a football manager in present times.
Also Read: 5 Highest Paid Managers in World Football Right Now
Every manager would like to buy the best players in the world for their team, but not all are afforded the resources to turn their dreams into reality. Despite this, there are a few managers who have spent astronomical amounts on players in their managerial careers so far. Today, we take a look at the 5 managers who have spent the most in the transfer market.
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5. Massimiliano Allegri - €1.03b
The former Juventus manager is currently taking a hiatus, but there is no dearth of suitors for him. Massimiliano Allegri is another former footballer who successfully made the transition to management after his playing days.
The Italian started his career with Aglianese in Serie C2, now known as Lega Pro Seconda Divisione, in 2004. He worked through Serie C2 and C1 before finally making an appearance in the Serie A for the first time as a manager with Cagliari in May 2008. He would remain at the Islanders until April 2010, when he was sacked despite a decent mid-table run. Allegri would not remain without a job for long, though, because AC Milan came calling in the summer of 2010.
At San Siro, the Italian immediately caught the eye, winning the Serie A in his first season. He also won the Supercoppa Italiana in 2011. For his first 3 seasons, Allegri was very impressive, finishing 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively and making his presence felt in the cups as well as the Champions League. He spent €191.9m on 35 players and notable among his signings during this time were Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mario Balotelli, and Robinho. However, in his 4th season, Milan’s performances hit rock bottom and the Italian was sacked in January 2014.
In the summer of 2014, Allegri replaced the outgoing Antonio Conte as the Juventus manager and thus began his most successful spell as a manager. In his 5 years during the helm at Turin, the Italian won 5 Serie A titles, 4 Coppa Italia trophies and 2 Supercoppa Italiana trophies. He also reached the final of the UEFA Champions League twice. He made wise investments in the market and bought 50 players, spending €805.7. It was during this time that he lashed out €117 on Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the biggest purchase of his career.
To date, Massimiliano Allegri has spent €1.03b on 96 players and has won 14 trophies. He is the 5th highest spending manager in the world at the moment.
4. Manuel Pellegrini - €1.05b
The Chilean was a defender during his playing years and worked in Chile and Argentina during the start of his career. After a brief, but successful spell with River Plate, Manuel Pellegrini joined Villareal in Spain in July 2004. He stayed there for 5 years, investing €115.4m on 29 players before he was offered a job by Real Madrid in the summer of 2009.
At the Santiago Bernabeu, Pellegrini spent €258.5m on 8 players in his only season, which included paying the then world-record fee of €94m for Cristiano Ronaldo. Kaka, Karim Benzema, and Xabi Alonso were also purchased in the same season. Unfortunately, despite picking up a then club-record 96 points in the La Liga, Real Madrid still finished second behind Barcelona and Pellegrini was replaced by Jose Mourinho in the summer of 2010.
The Chilean spent 3 seasons at Malaga next, investing €67.15m on 12 players. Before the start of the 2013/14 season, Pellegrini joined Manchester City. In his 3 seasons with City, he won the Premier League title - in his first season - and 2 League cups. He spent €427.1m on 19 players at the Etihad, buying future stars such as Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling and Fernandinho.
After 2 years in China next, Pellegrini joined West Ham United in May 2018 and is currently managing the Hammers. He has spent €1.05 Bn on 87 players to date in his managerial career and has won 5 trophies.
3. Pep Guardiola - €1.15b
One of the greatest managers of this generation, Pep Guardiola started out as the coach of the Barcelona B side in 2007. A year later, he replaced Frank Rijkaard as the coach of the Barcelona senior team, an appointment that would change the history of the club. The Spaniard purchased 19 players during his 4-year tenure, which included 3 free signings and spent a total of €342m. He achieved immense success during his time, winning every trophy possible and turning the Catalans into the best team in the world. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Villa, Dani Alves, and Cesc Fabregas were among his signings for the Catalans, and the Swedish striker remains his costliest purchase to date.
After leaving Barcelona in the summer of 2012, the Spaniard took a 1-year break and joined Bayern Munich in July 2013. He stayed for 3 years at the Bundesliga side and spent €204m on 13 players. Some of the players Guardiola bought – Joshua Kimmich, Kingsley Coman and Thiago – are valuable members of the current team. In his 3 years, he won every trophy except the UEFA Champions League. The Spaniard joined Manchester City in the Premier League in the summer of 2016.
At the Etihad, Guardiola has spent €599.7m on 22 players and transformed the club into the best teams in Europe. Last season, his team created history by managing a first-ever domestic treble. This season, he will have his sights on the UEFA Champions League, a trophy that has eluded him since his time at Barcelona.
The Spaniard has spent a total of €1.15b on 52 players so far during his managerial career and has 27 trophies to show for it. He is the 3rd highest spending manager in the world so at present.
2. Carlo Ancelotti - €1.23b
The legendary manager has been at the helm of some of the top clubs in the world and his CV is filled with trophies and accolades. However, Carlo Ancelotti is also the second biggest spending manager in the world right now. He has spent €1.23 Bn on 88 players a career spanning over 24 years, winning 19 trophies to date. Interestingly, the biggest purchase of his career was Gareth Bale, during his tenure as Real Madrid manager.
The Italian kicked off his management days with Serie B side Reggiana in 1995 and moved to Parma in the following season, where he failed to win a silverware and was sacked. He joined Juventus in February 1999, but even though his team played well, he could not get his hands on Silverware and was sacked at the end of the 2000/01 season. In November of the same year, he joined AC Milan and proceeded to build a dynasty at San Siro.
Ancelotti spent €256.3m on 30 players during his 7 and a half year spell and enjoyed huge success with Milan. He moved to Chelsea next and spent €151.5m on 9 players over a span of 2 years. He won the Premier League title, the FA Cup and the Charity Shield at the Stamford Bridge.
After a moderately successful 1 year stint with PSG, where he spent €171m on 9 players, the Italian joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2013. During his 2 year tenure, he spent €301.5m on 10 players and despite not winning the La Liga, was largely successful. After another brief stint, this time at Bayern Munich, Ancelotti joined Napoli last summer and is currently in charge of the Parthenopeans.
1. Jose Mourinho - €1.56b
The Special One has the distinction of winning Silverware at every club he has managed so far and will be hoping to add Tottenham to that list. Jose Mourinho started his managerial career at Benfica and after a brief stint with Uniao de Leira, he caught the attention of Porto, who appointed him as the manager in January 2002. He enjoyed a lot of success in his 2 and a half year stint with the Portuguese club and made the foray into the Premier League with Chelsea next.
Mourinho spent a little over 3 seasons with the Blues and spent €371.4m on 24 players, winning 2 Premier Leagues, 2 League Cups, 1 FA Cup and 1 Community Shield. After he was sacked in September 2007, Mourinho’s next destination was Inter Milan. The Portuguese joined the Serie A side in the summer of 2008 and spent €155.8m on 13 players. He found success once again and was lured to the Bernabeu by Real Madrid in the summer of 2010.
The Portuguese stayed in Spain for 3 years, investing €186.5m on 13 players and won the La Liga, Copa Del Rey, and the Supercoppa de Espana. Mourinho then returned to the Chelsea once again for a second spell and spent another €354m on 23 players. His tenure came to an abrupt end in December 2015 and in the summer of 2016, Manchester United came calling.
Mourinho spent 2 and a half seasons with the Red Devils and was allotted €466.1m to spend on 10 players. He won one Europa League trophy and one League Cup with the Red Devils and was sacked last December. As of now, he has taken over the reins at Tottenham Hotspur this month.
The Portuguese has spent a whopping €1.56 Bn on 101 players in his managerial career and has won 33 trophies. He is the highest spending manager in world football at the moment.
