Conte is a firebrand both on and off the pitch. His tactical stubbornness is matched only by his desire to build squads in his image. This often requires a serious investment, which clubs have usually been willing to provide.
His time at Chelsea brought a Premier League title and an FA Cup, while his stint at Inter Milan ended Juventus’ Serie A monopoly. Despite success, he has a habit of leaving clubs under controversial circumstances, often following disputes over transfer policy.
He’s still one of the most heavily backed managers ever.
7. Unai Emery – £1.06 Billion | Titles Won: 11
Unai Emery has quietly become one of the biggest spenders in football history. Despite a reputation for discipline and tactical rigidity, the Spaniard has had major financial backing across multiple clubs.
At PSG, he oversaw the most expensive transfer in history, Neymar for €222m. At Arsenal, his record was patchy, with major investment yielding little progress. His time at Aston Villa, however, has been a redemption arc.
Given the freedom to spend, he’s turned Villa into a serious Premier League contender.
Whether his latest project will bring sustained success is yet to be seen, but his financial footprint is undeniable.
Most Expensive Signings:
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Neymar (PSG) – €222m
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Nicolas Pepe (Arsenal) – €80m
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Amadou Onana (Aston Villa) – €59.35m
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Moussa Diaby (Aston Villa) – €55m
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Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa) – €44.5m
8. Manuel Pellegrini – £1.05 Billion | Titles Won: 11
Pellegrini has enjoyed a career managing some of the world’s biggest clubs: Real Madrid, Manchester City, and others. His legacy is more about stability than silverware.
At Manchester City, he was at the helm during a transformational era. With the backing of Sheikh Mansour, Pellegrini helped build a team that set the foundation for future dominance. While he won a Premier League title and two League Cups, his stints at other clubs lacked the same impact despite significant spending.
Notably, he oversaw the signings of Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka at Real Madrid and later brought in talents like Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling at City, players who would define a generation.
Most Expensive Signings:
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Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – €94m
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Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) – €76m
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Kaka (Real Madrid) – €67m
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Raheem Sterling (Man City) – €63.7m
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Sebastian Haller (West Ham) – €50m
Top 10 Youngest Managers in Premier League History
9. Thomas Tuchel – £1.04 Billion | Titles Won: 11
The German’s journey through Europe’s elite has been both tumultuous and decorated. Known for his meticulous tactical planning, Tuchel has managed clubs where spending big is the norm: PSG, Chelsea, Bayern Munich and unsurprisingly, his transfer tally has crossed the billion-pound mark.
His biggest triumph came with Chelsea, where he led the club to Champions League glory in 2021. Ironically, his most infamous signing came just months later, Romelu Lukaku for €113m, a move that failed spectacularly.
However, Tuchel’s involvement in bringing Kylian Mbappé to PSG will always be a feather in his cap. As England’s current boss, his days of big spending may be over for now.
Most Expensive Signings:
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Kylian Mbappé (PSG) – €180m
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Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) – €113m
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Harry Kane (Bayern Munich) – €95m
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Wesley Fofana (Chelsea) – €80.4m
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Marc Cucurella (Chelsea) – €65.3m
