Chelsea paid over £90m to sacked coaches in a decade

Details of Chelsea’s 2018-19 accounts have revealed billionaire Russian owner Roman Abramovich pumped £247million (US$325 million) into the club for the period – but paid out over £26 million in the sacking of Antonio Conte.

The club has paid over £90m in compensation to sacked managers since Abramovich gained ownership of Chelsea a decade and a half ago.

Former Juventus and Italy boss Conte, 50, guided the Blues to the 2017 Premier League title in his first season in charge, but was dismissed a year later, sparking bitter legal wrangling with Chelsea over compensation.

“Exceptional items in the current year of £26.6m relate to changes in respect of the men’s team management and coaching staff, together with associated legal costs,” said Chelsea’s 2018-19 accounts, as cited by Sky Sports.

Conte has since moved on to Inter Milan, while his replacement at Stamford Bridge, fellow Italian Maurizio Sarri, lasted just a single season before the mutual decision to part ways as he headed to Juventus.