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by Mick the Ram
Real Madrid have regained the title of being the world’s richest football club, with their revenue for 2022/23 transcending that of Manchester City, who were previously in top spot.
This is according to a review conducted by Deloitte’s and the Football Money League that they annually produce, which lists the highest revenue generating clubs and is a publication that remains the industry’s most reliable independent analysis of the top earning clubs.
The overhauling of their rivals comes despite the English champions achieving their own record year of €826 million (£718m) in income, accumulated whilst winning a historic treble.
The Spanish giants managed to eclipse that figure by just €5 million, but it was enough to put them back on top for the first time since 2017/18.
Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and Manchester United complete the top five; whilst Liverpool were the biggest fallers in the standings, dropping down from last year’s third place, to seventh position this time.
Overall revenues for the top 20 clubs rose by 14% to a record €10.5 billion (£8.97bn).
Who are Deloitte?
Deloitte is a global provider of audit and assurance, financial advisories and related services. Considered to be one of the “Big Four” accounting firms worldwide, they are the largest multinational professional services network by revenue and number of professionals, spanning more than 150 countries and territories.
The Deloitte Football Money League is now in its 27th year of analysing the highest revenue-generating football clubs globally, with the company’s review of football finance long recognised as Europe’s independent leader.
Incredible figures reported from Madrid
Their findings show that Real Madrid have eclipsed Manchester City to become the highest revenue generating football club of 2022/23, which is their first time gaining that recognition since 2017/18.
Madrid’s return to the top of the index table after a five year gap, comes after an increase of a whopping €118 million from the year before, taking their generated revenue figure to a record €831 million (£710m).
This is even more impressive when it is remembered that they were knocked out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage (ironically by Manchester City), and could only finish as runners-up to Barcelona in La Liga.
City won’t be too despondent
Although Pep Guardiola’s all conquering club will be a little disappointed at being knocked of top spot, they are unlikely to fret too much considering that they broke their own record, helped significantly by their remarkable season of success on the pitch, winning the Premier League, the FA Cup and their ultimate goal of the Champions League.
Substantial broadcasting and commercial revenues were the chief substance of a figure that reached its highest ever total.
Revenue climbs as a result of commercial activities
Commercial revenue in actual fact, overtook broadcast revenue across the sport as the largest income stream for the first time since 2015-16, excluding the 2019/20 season which was severely hit by the Covid-19 outbreak.
In the new top 20, 17 clubs reported a year-on-year increase. Essentially, this can be attributed to retail sales, and non-match associated events and sponsorship. On average the top 20 clubs had an average revenue of more than €500 million.
Premier League still dominating top ten
Liverpool’s fall is a big blow to the Merseyside club, due to a poor season where they failed to qualify for this year’s Champions League, after a disappointing fifth place finish. They have recovered strongly this season though so will expect to climb again next year, although the news that manager Jürgen Klopp intends to step down at the end of the current season will be a blow.
They still remain one of six Premier League clubs in the top ten however, joining the two Manchester outfits, along with Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal, in eighth, ninth, and tenth positions, respectively.
Usual suspects complete the table
German heavyweights Bayern Munich only missed out on a place in the top five by one position and €1.6 million, but remain a very healthy club and will be happy with their sixth spot.
The second half of the top twenty includes four Italian clubs: Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli. There are two more English teams in Newcastle United and West Ham United; two more German sides in Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt; plus Real Madrid’s city rivals Atletico; and the list is completed in 20th spot by major French club Marseille.
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