By Andrew Warshaw
April 20 – Four English Premier League teams are among the 10 most valuable clubs in world football according to the latest Forbes rich list, with Manchester United once again out on top for the eighth successive year.
The global popularity of English football was once again underlined as United edged out Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona with their revenues estimated at $2.235 billion (£1.396 billion/€1.700 billion).
Arsenal is fourth with Chelsea and Liverpool seventh and eighth respectively.
Two German clubs – Bayern Munich and Schalke 04 – also make the top ten, as do Italian giants AC Milan and Juventus.
Cash-rich Manchester City, who have thrown money at their attempt to win the Premier league title, sit outside the leading places at 13th but that is because the Sheikh Mansour-owned club as yet have been unable to tap into European success to augment their brand.
Nevertheless, the Holy Grail of Champions League qualification continues to play a key part in how financially strong clubs are becoming.
“The top teams on the pitch are going to continue to get richer,” Forbes said.
“This year’s Champions League payout will be higher than 2011 for the 32 tournament teams.
“Broadcasting revenue is the key, particularly in the UEFA Champions League.
“The total payout last year was $1.14 billion (£709.66 million/€867.25 million), 23 per cent more than the previous year.”
United have failed to deliver in this season’s Champions League – along with all other English clubs bar Chelsea – but they are still a marketing dream.
“Manchester United, although their lead over Real Madrid and Barcelona, is still the top team, mainly driven by the 16 per cent increase in their commercial revenue – sponsorship and advertising,” said Forbes.
“They’ve got that huge deal with Nike, which has fuelled their overall increase.”
“The better you do in the domestic league the more TV money you get,” added Forbes which notes that United’s global fan base was around 330 million, much of it in Asia.
“Manchester United are consistently at the top of the Premier League and in Europe, this year not so far, but still they are very consistent.”
1 Manchester United – $2.235 billion (£1.396 billion/€1.700 billion)
2 Real Madrid – $1.877 billion (£1.168 billion/€1.428 billion)
3 Barcelona – $1.307 billion (£814 million/€994 million)
4 Arsenal – $1.292 billion (£804 million/€983 million)
5 Bayern Munich – $1.235 billion (£769 million/€940 million)
6 AC Milan – $989 million (£614 million/€752 million)
7 Chelsea – $761 million (£474 million/€578 million)
8 Liverpool – $619 million (£385 million/€470 million)
9 Juventus – $591 million (£367 million/€449 million)
10 Schalke 04 – $587 million (£365 million/€446 million)
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