Another coaching chapter closes for José Mourinho, and with it, another hefty payout. His recent departure from Fenerbahçe marks the seventh time a club has ended his contract early. The Portuguese manager still had one year left on his deal with the Turkish club. He will reportedly receive 15 million euros in severance, according to local press reports from this morning. This latest sum pushes the ‘Special One’s’ career earnings from dismissals past a staggering 100 million euros.
Just last January, when Mourinho left Roma, the ‘Daily Mail’ crunched the numbers. They reported a total of 93 million euros paid out by clubs that had previously let him go. Adding the 15 million euros from Fenerbahçe to that figure brings the grand total to an impressive 108 million euros. It’s a colossal amount for a manager who, despite his trophy cabinet, often parts ways with teams before his contract officially ends.
His severance from Roma was not as substantial as some of his earlier exits. This was because his agreement with the Giallorossi was already set to expire that June. Even so, the estimated amount he received was still around 3.5 million euros. It’s clear that even when contracts are winding down, Mourinho often secures a decent package.
A Look Back at Mourinho’s Expensive Goodbyes
Mourinho’s first experience of being asked to leave came in 2007 at Chelsea. He collected 20.9 million euros then. Next was Real Madrid, where he departed in 2013, receiving 19.7 million euros in compensation.
He later returned to Chelsea but left Stamford Bridge again in 2015. This time, he walked away with 9.6 million euros in his pocket.
The largest severance package Mourinho has received to date was a massive 22 million euros from Manchester United. He was dismissed in December 2018, not long after extending his contract until 2020. This particular payout highlights the high cost clubs often face when making changes at the top.
After taking a break from the game, the Portuguese manager took over at Tottenham. He stayed for 17 months before being asked to leave in 2021. This happened just before he was set to manage them in the League Cup final. According to figures from the ‘Daily Mail,’ he received 17.4 million euros from that departure.