And the report shows Spain has the two biggest football clubs in the world based on revenue, with Barcelona joining their Spanish rivals in the top two. England has eight clubs in top 20.
Real Madrid retained the number one place it gained last year and Barcelona is this year’s biggest mover, up four places to second. Manchester United, which had headed the first eight editions of the Deloitte Football Money League, is the highest of eight Premiership clubs in the top 20. Analysis in the Football Money League is based on the latest financial information for the 2005/06 season. Barcelona
Dan Jones, Partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, commented. “The two [Spanish] clubs have had contrasting strategies, with Real focussing on driving commercial revenue from recruiting its Galactico players and Barcelona having a more balanced revenue profile. With both the Spanish giants predicting revenues of over €300m in 2006/07 we may well see the same two clubs at the top of the Money League in 2006/07.”
The total revenue of the Top 20 clubs was over €3.3 billion in 2005/06. Dan Jones said: “Football remains a growth sport, especially at the highest level. The continued high level of public and commercial interest is reflected by another year of strong growth. The global market has become increasingly important for more European clubs.”
The global Top 20 is entirely populated by European clubs, with English clubs occupying eight of the positions, Italian clubs four positions, three from Germany, two from Spain, and one club from each of Scotland, France and Portugal. England’s highest representative is Manchester United, which slipped to fourth place this year. Paul Rawnsley commented “Manchester United may be in fourth position this year, but with the completion of their stadium development we can expect them to move back up the list in 2006/07. It is also notable that United remain the most profitable club football operation in the world.”
Developments in the broadcast market have underpinned many of the changes in the Money League, and these give some pointers to the composition of future Football Money Leagues. Alan Switzer commented: “Revenue from the new French broadcasting deal has seen Olympique Lyonnais move up to their highest Money League position of 11th, while Real Madrid and Barcelona’s announcement of new deals should see them challenge at the top of the table in coming years. The Premier League’s recently concluded broadcasting deals may see English teams contribute half of the top 20 clubs in 2007/08.”
