Jose Mourinho Refuses to Stay in a Private House, His Hotel Accommodation Bills Reach Tens of Billions of Rupiah.

Jose Mourinho has a unique habit as a professional football manager. Rather than renting or purchasing a home in the city where he is employed, the former Manchester United head coach instead chooses to reside in hotels.

This is not just a short-term arrangement for days or holiday periods. Mourinho will live in a hotel for years at a time, even when his career requires him to relocate across international borders.

This habit comes with a substantial cost. During his tenure at Manchester United, Mourinho was reported to have spent nearly two and a half years living in a hotel, with total accommodation expenses reaching billions of Indonesian Rupiah.

Nearly 900 Nights In Manchester

As reported by CNN, while managing Manchester United, Mourinho stayed at Manchester's The Lowry Hotel for approximately 2.5 years, remaining there until he was dismissed by the club in 2018.

During his stay, Mourinho occupied the premium Riverside Suite, which includes a large master bedroom, separate living area, formal dining space, and a compact private kitchen.

According to official hotel pricing from that period, the nightly rate for Mourinho's suite was USD 758, equivalent to around IDR 13.3 million at an exchange rate of IDR 17,635 per US Dollar.

Calculated across his total 895 night stay, Mourinho's total accommodation costs are estimated at USD 679,000, or approximately IDR 11.9 billion.

Pattern Repeated During Turkish Club Tenure

Mourinho's preference for hotel living repeated when he was appointed manager of Turkish top flight club Fenerbahce.

As cited by The Sun, Mourinho resided full-time at the Four Seasons Hotel Istanbul for more than one year while working in Turkey.

This luxury property offers full premium amenities including marble finished bathrooms, expansive private terraces, and exclusive panoramic views.

Turkish media outlet Yenicag Gazetesi confirmed Mourinho stayed at the hotel for approximately 15 months. Fenerbahce reportedly covered all accommodation costs during his contract, which totalled around 36.5 million Turkish Lira, or approximately IDR 13.28 billion.

These two documented cases confirm that living in hotels is not a temporary workaround for Mourinho. Hotels have become his preferred primary residence whenever he takes up work in a new city or country.

Why Choose Hotels Over Houses Or Apartments?

Mourinho directly addressed this question in 2018. He admitted he has no interest in managing the logistics of maintaining a private home, and finds the full support services of hotels far more suitable for his lifestyle.

"I am a very lazy person, and I genuinely enjoy living in hotels. I don't want anyone to worry that I'm stuck in some tiny 2 square metre room. I stay in a full private apartment within the hotel, that provides every comfort and support I could need. Everything I require is right there, exactly the same as if I lived in a regular house," Mourinho stated, as quoted by ESPN.

Another key consideration is that Mourinho believes his living environment directly impacts his mood, which in turn affects his professional performance as a manager.

"If they forced me to live in a house I don't like, in an uncomfortable location, far away from my coaching staff, I would be unhappy. And an unhappy person cannot do their job properly," he concluded.

For Mourinho, staying in hotels does not mean living in cramped, basic quarters. On the contrary, hotels provide almost every amenity he would have access to in a private residential home.