Manchester United spent £100m on managers while cutting costs elsewhere

In January 2026, Manchester United sacked head coach Rúben Amorim. The Portuguese received £10 million in compensation, while ordinary staff and fans continue to face constant budget cuts and restrictions.

Since 2013, following the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, the club has paid over £100 million to seven managers, according to The Telegraph:

• David Moyes – £4.9 million

• Louis van Gaal – £8.4 million

• José Mourinho – £19.6 million

• Ole Gunnar Solskjær – £10 million

• Ralf Rangnick – £14.7 million

• Erik ten Hag – £10 million

• Rúben Amorim – £10 million

Meanwhile, the club cuts costs everywhere else. Free meals for staff were canceled, reportedly saving around £1 million. In 2025, Manchester United reduced its workforce by roughly 400–450 employees, including 250 already laid off in the first wave and up to 200 further planned cuts, in an effort to return the club to profitability after five consecutive years of losses. (Sky Sports)

The savings extend to staff perks: instead of traveling to the 2025 Europa League final against Tottenham Hotspur in Bilbao, employees were only given vouchers for free food and allowed to watch the match on TV in Manchester. By comparison, other clubs, such as PSG, cover travel costs for staff attending Champions League final.

Fan benefits and social initiatives are also being reduced, despite the fact that fans are what make the club great.

Perhaps most shameful was the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, an absolute club legend on whose name Manchester United’s identity is still built, done for the sake of cost-cutting. Ferguson was made a club ambassador with a salary reportedly around £2 million per year.

It’s clear why the club changes managers so frequently: Manchester United aims to return to and secure a spot in the Champions League, generating higher revenues from tournament participation, more profitable player sales, and bigger contracts.

But the contrast is striking. The club is willing to part ways with a legend, cuts costs on employees and fans, and yet continues to incur losses of around £100 million.

Given these losses and the non-essential expenses on huge compensation packages for departed managers, the club’s revenue depends not only on sporting success but also on brand value, marketing, and fan engagement. Cutting staff and reducing perks risks undermining loyalty among both employees and fans, which could weaken the club’s long-term profitability, even if short-term savings are achieved on salaries and bonuses.

In other words, Manchester United’s strategy appears to be a trade-off between immediate savings and long-term stability: the club pays millions to managers for short-term results, but does not invest in the people who support the club every day. Such an approach risks damaging the club’s image and operational effectiveness, despite its ambitions and glorious history.