March 26 – The annual France Football Rich Lists for players and managers have been released, with the lists topped by Lionel Messi and Jose Mourinho respectively.
The lists are compiled on the basis of salaries, bonuses and advertising revenues over the previous year and show some interesting disparities. Messi, for example, earns almost three times more than Wayne Rooney.
The top three earning players all play in Spain. Only one of the top earning players are at German clubs while none play in Italy.
When it comes to managers, Louis van Gaal earns less than half his top two paid players Robin van Persie and Rooney at Manchester United.
Club management is better paid than national team jobs, with Fabio Capello – at sixth – the only international manager who makes the list at cash-strapped Russia (Capello did go six months unpaid but t that salary level he can probably afford to sit it out for a bit).
The increasing footprint of China can be noted with the entrance of Sven-Goran Ericksson in eighth place. He is currently managing Chinese Super League club Shanghai SIPG – his 18th club since he started in management in 1977.
Top Earning Players
1. Lionel Messi £47.8m
2. Cristiano Ronaldo £39.7m
3. Neymar £26.8m
4. Thiago Silva £20.2m
5. Robin van Persie £18.8m
6. Gareth Bale £17.5m
7. Wayne Rooney £16.5m
8. Zlatan Ibrahimovic £15.8m
9. Sergio Aguero £15.6m
10. Robert Lewandowski £14.8m
Top Earning Managers
1. Jose Mourinho £13.2m
2. Carlo Ancelotti £11.4m
3. Pep Guardiola £11.2m
4. Arsene Wenger £8.3m
5. Louis van Gaal £7.3m
6. Fabio Capello £6.6m
7. Andre Villas-Boas £6.2m
8. Sven-Goran Eriksson £5.9m
9. Jurgen Klopp £5.3m
10. David Moyes and Laurent Blanc £5.1m
It is worth noting that the Goal Rich List, published earlier this month had Cristiano Ronaldo in top spot, based on total wealth earned over his career.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1741604166labto1741604166ofdlr1741604166owedi1741604166sni@r1741604166ebab.1741604166kram1741604166