Football Money League: United out of top three; City up; Liverpool down

MANCHESTER United has lost its place in the top three of Football’s Money League for the first time in the 17-year history of the report.

Once the biggest revenue earning club in the world, United has since been eclipsed by Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona and now by Germany’s Bayern Munich, the annual money league report published by accountants Deloitte reveals.

United in fourth spot, remains the biggest English club by revenue, but rivals Manchester City climbed above London teams Chelsea and Arsenal to take sixth place.

Liverpool’s continued absence from the ultra-lucrative UEFA Champions League competition saw the club falling out of the top 10 for the first time since 1999-2000, despite a 9% hike in commercial income.

Austin Houlihan from Deloitte’s Sports Business Group said: “Whilst Manchester United drop one place in the Money League, a number of the club’s recent commercial deals will boost revenue in 2013/14, so this fall to fourth place may only be temporary. 

“These deals, combined with the impact of the improved three year Premier League broadcast deals from 2013/14, mean they are likely to get close to the €500m revenue mark in next year’s Money League.  Beyond 2013/14, consistent qualification for the Champions League is key in United challenging to regain top spot in the Money League, a position it last held in 2003/04.”

Dan Jones, partner in the Sports Business Group said:  “The combined revenue of the top 20 clubs, almost all of which grew their revenue during 2012/13, increased by 8%, far outpacing the wider global economy. 

“This growth comes even before the new record Premier League and Bundesliga broadcast deals, which will impact on clubs’ revenues in next year’s Money League.”

The table below shows the top 10 clubs by revenues in 2013 and 2012.