Manchester United has climbed two places to second in the latest Football Money League from business advisory firm Deloitte, which ranks the 20 biggest football clubs in the world based on revenue. Real Madrid remains the world's largest revenue generating club, completing a hat-trick of first place finishes. Analysis in the Football Money League is based on the latest financial information for the 2006/07 season.
Manchester United is joined in the top five by Chelsea and Arsenal. Chelsea has climbed two places to fourth whilst Arsenal is the biggest climber in the 2007 Money League, rising four places to fifth this year. Barcelona has dropped one place from second to third.
Dan Jones, Partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, commented: "This is the first time that any country has had three clubs in the top five of the Money League. Arsenal's move to the Emirates Stadium has transformed their revenues whilst Chelsea's revenue increase sees them return to the top five."
Real Madrid and Manchester United became the first football clubs to generate more than €300m in a season. Real enjoyed an impressive 20% increase to take their total revenue to €351m (£236m), whilst Manchester United's revenue grew even more quickly to reach €315m (£212m). Jones added: "With the new Premier League television deals now online for the 2007/08 season, Manchester United have the opportunity to significantly close the gap on Real and a successful Champions League run may even see them challenge again for the number one position."
Football remains a growth sport, especially at the highest level. The top 20 clubs' collective revenues grew by 11% to €3.7 billion (£2.5 billion) in 2006/07, the highest rate of growth since 2002/03. The top 20 clubs now generate more than three times the combined revenues of the clubs in the first Money League in 1996/97.
The global top 20 is entirely populated by European clubs. Six English clubs feature in this year's Money League, along with four clubs from each of Germany and Italy, three Spanish clubs, two French clubs and one from Scotland. Post World Cup there are more German clubs in the Money League than ever before.
Alan Switzer, Director in the Sports Business Group, says: "The performance of German clubs particularly catches the eye, with enhanced revenues being generated from new and improved stadia. The stadium is a club's biggest asset and the majority of the Money League clubs are looking to complete stadium developments in the short and medium term."
Whilst the number of English clubs in this season's Money League dropped from eight to six, next year the number could significantly increase. Paul Rawnsley, Director in the Sports Business Group said: "Clubs such as Aston Villa, Everton, Manchester City and West Ham United are already just outside the top 20 and with the revenue uplift from the new broadcast deals now benefiting the clubs, we expect to see the bottom half of next year's Money League dominated by English teams."
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