United back to second spot in earnings table

LONDON — Manchester United regained second place in the list of the world’s highest-earning clubs last season and could soon reclaim the top spot, showed this year’s Deloitte Money League ranking.

The accountancy firm’s annual assessment of revenues generated by football teams laid bare the impact of the Premier League’s £5.5 billion (S$11.3 billion) television deal after United overhauled Barcelona and Bayern Munich despite enduring their worst season in decades.

Liverpool also climbed back into the top 10 — to ninth — after dropping out for the first time last year, with Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal remaining sixth, seventh, and eighth respectively.

As well as having a record-equalling five clubs in the top 10 and eight in the top 20, 2013-14 saw all 20 Premier League teams inside the top 40 for the first time.

United’s revenue alone soared by almost 20 per cent to £433.2 million (S$876 million), largely thanks to a 34 per cent surge in their broadcast income to £135.8 million.

That put them second overall behind Real Madrid (£459.5 million) for the first time since they last won the Champions League in 2008. Real’s revenue grew by only 3 per cent despite their long-awaited 10th European Cup triumph — La Decima — which helped them stay ahead of the pack for the 10th successive season.

United were top in the eight years before that and Austin Houlihan, senior manager at Deloitte, said: “Their absence this season from European competition will be felt in next year’s Money League position. But if they can return to the Champions League in 2015-16, there is a strong possibility they could be top in two years’ time.”

Barcelona (£405.2 million) surrendered second place for the first time since 2008 and finished outside of the top three for the first time in a decade. Deloitte said the combined revenue of the top 20 broke the £5 billion barrier for the first time, at £5.2 billion.

Dan Jones, partner in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, said: “The growth experienced within the top 20 has been remarkable. Although only Manchester United and Real Madrid have gone past the €500 million revenue marker so far (at £418.1 million), we predict that all of the top five clubs may reach that point by next year.” THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Top 10 (by revenue)

1 — Real Madrid (£459.5m)

2 — Manchester United (£433.2m)

3 — Bayern Munich (£407.7m)

4 — FC Barcelona (£405.2m)

5 — Paris St Germain (£396.5m)

6 — Manchester City (£346.5m)

7 — Chelsea (£324.4m)

8 — Arsenal (£300.5m)

9 — Liverpool (£255.8m)

10 — Juventus (£233.6m)