By David Owen
August 25 – Four of the seven biggest earners from the two major European cross-continental club football competitions last season were English.
Though none of them were good enough to reach the Champions League semi-finals in 2009-2010, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool - the English Premier League’s traditional Big Four - were all among the European elite who made more than €30 million (£24.5 million from it and the new-fangled Europa League.
Manchester United, whose Champions League campaign ended at the quarter-final stage, were the second-biggest earners - behind only champions Internazionale - with €45.8 million (£37.5 million), according to figures from UEFA.
Arsenal, also quarter-finalists, and Chelsea, who did not even get that far, were fifth and sixth on the list at €33.4 million (£27.3 million) and €32.2 million (£26.3 million) respectively.
Troubled Liverpool, eliminated at the Champions League group stage, managed to top up their European income with almost €3 million (£2.4 million) from the Europa League.
This lifted the Anfield side to seventh place overall with €31.9 million (£26.1 million).
Beaten finalists Fulham were comfortably the biggest Europa League earners at just over €10 million (£8.1 million).
Atlético Madrid, the club which beat them, made just €6.4 million, though they also picked up €15.1 million (£12.3 million) for their participation in the Champions League.
All told, clubs - who also retain their gate receipts - shared €746.4 million (£611.9 million) in Champions League payments and €135 million (£110.6 million) from the Europa League, reflecting the relative importance of the two competitions.
The two lowest earners among the 32 Champions League qualifiers were Maccabi Haifa of Israel with €8.5 million (£6.9 million) and Debrecen of Hungary with €9 million (£7.3 million).
All 48 qualifiers for the Europa League group stages made at least €1 million (£820,000).
The Premier League’s old order is in the process of changing, with another London club Tottenham usurping Liverpool’s place in the top four last season and nouveau riche Manchester City expected to press hard for a leading spot this time.
Top 12 European earners
1. Internazionale €48.8 million (£40 million)
2. Manchester United €45.8 (£37.5 million)
3. Bayern Munich €44.9 (£36.8 million)
4. Barcelona €39.1 (£32 million)
5. Arsenal €33.4 (£27.3 million)
6. Chelsea €32.2 (£26.3 million)
7. Liverpool €31.9 (£26.1 million)
8. Bordeaux €29.7 (£24.3 million)
9. Lyon €29.1 (£23.8 million)
10. Wolfsburg €28.2 (£23.1 million)
11. Olympiacos €27.7 (£22.7 million)
12. Real Madrid €26.8 (£21.9 million)
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