Manchester United have confirmed that Jose Mourinho and his staff were handed a staggering $35 million pay-off following his dismissal in December.
The Portuguese was dismissed on 18 December with United 17 points behind Liverpool, the Premier League leaders at the time, and they had been eliminated from the Carabao Cup by second division side Derby County.
In fact, according to Sky Sports, that is four times the sum it cost to dismiss his predecessors in the Old Trafford dugout, David Moyes and Louis van Gaal when they were fired in 2014 and 2016 respectively.
That sum, which is listed under “exceptional items” in United’s second-quarter financial results, includes pay-outs for the five members of Mourinho’s staff who left with him after United recorded their worst start to a campaign in 28 years.
According to reports, Mourinho received about $27 million to pay off the remaining one year on his contract. The rest went to the six coaches.
United has now spent $59 million dismissing the three managers hired since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013 after 26 trophy-laden years in charge.
David Moyes lasted 10 months as Ferguson’s successor before being fired along with his coaches at a cost of 5.2 million pounds in 2014.
Despite Louis van Gaal winning the first major trophy of the post-Ferguson era – the 2016 FA Cup – he was fired after two years primarily for failing to qualify for the lucrative Champions League. The payoffs to Van Gaal and his coaches reached 8.4 million pounds.
Mourinho, who replaced Van Gaal, had a contract through next season, but the risk of missing out on the top four led to his dismissal.
According to vice chairman Ed Woodward, the appointment of Solskjaer and assistant manager Mike Phelan, who worked under Ferguson at United, “has had a positive impact throughout the club.
“The appointment of Ole and Mike (Phelan) as caretaker manager and assistant manager, working with Kieran, Michael and Emilio, has had a positive impact throughout the club,” Woodward said in a statement on Thursday.
“We are delighted with the improvement in the team’s performances since December and we look forward to a strong finish to the 18/19 season.”