Champions League bonanza

There is a lot riding financially on whether Spurs can overcome Young Boys tomorrow and reach the group stage of the Champions League.   Although no English team got past the quarter-finals last season the top four clubs (United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool) earned a combined total of €140m in television and prize money from the tournament, well ahead of the €116m received by their Italian rivals and the €105m received by Spanish clubs.  These figures reflect the value of the ITV and Sky bro

There is a lot riding financially on whether Spurs can overcome Young Boys tomorrow and reach the group stage of the Champions League.   Although no English team got past the quarter-finals last season the top four clubs (United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool) earned a combined total of €140m in television and prize money from the tournament, well ahead of the €116m received by their Italian rivals and the €105m received by Spanish clubs.  These figures reflect the value of the ITV and Sky broadcasting deals for the competition which increased by 25 per cent in value for the period from 2009 to 2012.


Manchester United received €45.8m (£37.4m) in television and prize money for reaching the quarter finals, marginally less than the €48.7m picked up by the champions, Inter Milan.  This was more than the €42.9m they received when they beat Chelsea to lift the trophy.   Incidentally, United’s Champions League earnings do not even cover the annual interest bill of some £45m on their bond issue.  


Arsenal earnt €33.4m by reaching the last eight and Chelsea, who went out in the round of 16 still earned €32.2m.   With the exception of Chelsea, the English clubs enjoyed an average income rise of 10 to 15 per cent compared with the previous season, despite being less successful in the Champions League.


There is a big gap between the sums earned from the Champions League and the Europa League, something that will hit Liverpool hard this season.   As the beaten Europa League finalists Fulham earned €10m in television income and prize money.   This was less than half the €29m Liverpool received despite being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage.


In Scotland Rangers earned €17.1m from the Champions League, almost ten times the €1.8m Celtic earned for their Europa League run.


The total sum distributed to all participating clubs from the centralised pool by Uefa was €746.4m with the minimum payment being €7.1m.