Football Media

• The Deloitte Football Money League shows the total revenue of the world’s Top 20 clubs is now over €3.3 billion
• Real Madrid stays ahead of the competition with total revenue of £202m (€ 292m),
• Barcelona are this year’s biggest movers, up four places to second place completing a top two for Spanish clubs.
• Manchester United, who had headed the first eight editions of the Deloitte Football Money League, is the highest of eight Premiership clubs in the top 20.

Spain has the two biggest football clubs in the world, with Real Madrid and Barcelona topping the list of the world’s biggest football clubs based on revenue, according to the Football Money League from business advisory firm Deloitte.  Analysis in the Football Money League is based on the latest financial information for the 2005/06 season.

Real Madrid retains the number one place which it gained last year, while it has been joined in the top two by Barcelona, which has seen a transformation in revenues since 2002/03.  Dan Jones, Partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, commented: “Spain reign in the Money League this year, with Real Madrid keeping their number one spot and Barcelona moving up to four places to number two.”

“The two 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, who slip 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.”