5 managers who have spent the most in the transfer market

4. Manuel Pellegrini - €1.05b

Manuel Pellegrini

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.