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Man U closing the gap on Real Madrid

The two generated revenues in excess of €300 million each

LONDON: Real Madrid remains top of football’s money league but Manchester United is closing the gap and could reclaim the No. 1 spot by winning this season’s Champions League.

Real and United were the only two clubs on the planet to generate revenues in excess of €300 million ($437 million) over the course of the 2006/07 season, according to figures compiled by business advisory firm Deloitte and published on Thursday.

The survey reflects the growing financial muscle of the English Premier League’s leading clubs with Chelsea and Arsenal joining United as one of the top five clubs in terms of revenues generated.

Renaissance

But it also highlights a renaissance in the financial fortunes of German clubs, whose representation in the top 20 by revenue has risen to four for the first time on the back of the 2006 World Cup, which bequeathed a legacy of bigger and better stadiums as well as raising interest in the Bundesliga.

Arsenal was the biggest climber in the table, rising four places to fifth spot with the help of increased match-day revenue following its August 2006 move from Highbury to the 60,000-capacity Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea rose two places to fourth while Barcelona slipped from second to third.

“This is the first time that any country has had three clubs in the top five of the Money League,” said Dan Jones, partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte.

“Arsenal’s move to the Emirates Stadium has transformed their revenues whilst Chelsea’s revenue increase sees them return to the top five.”

Investor friendly

Deloitte’s survey also underlines why so many international investors have come to see top clubs as attractive propositions.

The top 20 clubs’ collective revenues grew by 11 per cent to €3.7 billion in 2006/07, the highest rate of growth since 2002/03.

They now generate more than three times the combined revenues of the clubs in the first Money League in 1996/97.

Only European clubs

Deloitte’s top 20 is populated entirely by European clubs. Six English clubs feature in this year’s Money League, along with four clubs from Germany and Italy, three Spanish clubs, two French clubs and one from Scotland.

Although the number of English clubs in the top 20 dropped form eight to six, Deloitte expect the likes of Aston Villa, Everton, Manchester City and West Ham to return once the new television income is reflected in their figures. — Agencies

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