Business

Manchester United tops football rich list for second consecutive year

Manchester United has again been named football's richest club in the Deloitte Football Money League. Pictured is Manchester United's Jesse Lingard
Manchester United has again been named football's richest club in the Deloitte Football Money League. Pictured is Manchester United's Jesse Lingard Manchester United has again been named football's richest club in the Deloitte Football Money League. Pictured is Manchester United's Jesse Lingard

MANCHESTER United remains the richest club in world football according to the latest figures from Deloitte.

The Red Devils pipped Real Madrid to retain their position from last year, with FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich and local rivals Manchester City making up the remainder of the Deloitte Football Money League top five. Arsenal were 6th while Chelsea and Liverpool also featured in the top 10.

Aggregate revenue for the top 20 Money League clubs rose 6 per cent to £6.8 billion (€7.9 billion) in 2016/17, a new record, with the top three clubs – Manchester United, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid – earning a combined revenue of €2 billion for the first time.

The English Premier League has ten teams in the top 20 this year, the highest ever from one country, with Southampton (18th) making their debut, Manchester City consolidating their place in the top five, and Leicester City rising to 14th, from 20th last year. Outside the top 20, there are four more English clubs ranked 21-30, including AFC Bournemouth who debut in 28th place.

Manchester United retained top spot for a second consecutive year, generating total revenue of £581m (€676m), but the battle for first place was the closest in Money League history, with just £1.5m separating them and Real Madrid. United's victory in the Europa League Final in May proved crucial in the club retaining its lofty position, as it picked up €44.5m from UEFA, while Real Madrid moved above Barcelona in the standing thanks to strong commercial growth in 2016/17 and a title winning season in both domestic and European competitions.

A place in the top 20 now requires revenue of approximately €200m, a 16 per cent increase on last year and double the amount required in the 2010 edition of the Money League.