Real stay top of the money league

Real Madrid remains the world’s largest revenue generating football club, according to the latest Football Money League from business advisory firm Deloitte.

Manchester United and Barcelona finished second and third in the report, which ranks the 20 biggest football clubs in the world based on revenue. Each of the top three clubs generated revenues in excess of €300m.

Analysis in the Football Money League is based on the latest financial information for the 2007/08 season.

Bayern Munich returns to the top five in the Money League for the first time in five years, climbing three places to fourth and is joined in the top five by Chelsea.

Dan Jones, Partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, commented: “Whilst Real Madrid’s 4% revenue growth in 2007/08 is more modest than recent years, the club has now doubled its revenues since 2002 and enjoys a lead of €41m over Manchester United.

“With the club having announced that it is budgeting for revenues of €400m in 2008/09, it will be difficult for rivals to replace Real at the top of the Money League next year.”

Real Madrid increased revenue by €15m (4%) to take their total to €366m. Manchester United’s performances on the pitch in 2007/08 resulted in a €50m (21%) increase in revenue to €325m. Third placed Barcelona grew its revenue by €19m (6%) to €309m.

The impact of the exchange rate, and the depreciation of the pound against the euro has adversely impacted on the number and ranking of English clubs in the top 20. Jones added: “If the exchange rate value of the Pound had not depreciated, there would have been nine, rather than seven English clubs in the top 20 and Manchester United would have topped the Money League ahead of Real Madrid.”

The global top 20 is entirely populated by European clubs. In addition to the seven English clubs, Germany and Italy have four representatives each, Spain and France two clubs each, whilst Fenerbahce become the first Turkish club to feature in the top 20 since the creation of the Money League rankings in 1996/97.

Alan Switzer, Director in the Sports Business Group, says: “Bayern Munich is the biggest climber in this year’s top 10, moving up to fourth position. Despite not competing in the Champions League, revenues were boosted by the club acquiring 100% ownership of its home ground, the Allianz Arena.

“Fenerbahce and VfB Stuttgart, two of the three new entrants ‘promoted’ into the Money League, gain their top 20 position as a result of the significant revenue boost from competing in the Champions League. The other new entrant, Manchester City, secured 20th position largely due to the increase in broadcast monies received from the Premier League, in the season prior to the arrival of the club’s Abu Dhabi based owners.”