England's Premier League is by far the richest and most profitable soccer league in Europe, while Roman Abramovich's Chelsea paid some 170 million euros (US$209 million) in salaries, according to a survey of the 2003-'04 season released on Wednesday.
The 20 clubs in England's top division brought in total revenues of 1.97 billion euros, British accounting firm Deloitte & Touche said in its annual financial review of soccer.
That figure made the Premiership "the biggest football league in Europe by a record margin and represents 18 percent of the total 11 billion euro European football market," the report said.
The survey covered Chelsea's first full season under the ownership of Russian oil billionaire Roman Abramovich, and it showed. Chelsea's salary bill went up 110 percent and was "almost certainly" the highest in the world for a soccer club, the survey said.
Chelsea finished runner up in 2003-'04 and went on to win the title in the season just ended for the first time in 50 years.
The league's total wage bill came to 1.2 billion euros, with Manchester United second behind Chelsea at 115 million euros.
Excluding Chelsea, the total wage bill rise for other Premier League clubs narrowly dropped from the previous season for the first time.
The 7 percent hike was the lowest rise since 1992 and well below previous "astonishing" increases.
Total revenues for Premier League clubs climbed 6 percent to 1.97 billion euros.
Revenues were equivalent to almost 100 million euros per English club and over 50 percent higher than second-place Italy's Serie A.
Manchester United came in as the top revenue generator at 256 million euros, with Chelsea second at 215 million euros.
The Premier League beat European rivals in operating profits too, bringing in a record 222 million euros and topping its only profitable rival, the German Bundesliga.
A stunning Lamine Yamal strike on Thursday helped crown Barcelona La Liga champions with a 2-0 win over local rivals RCD Espanyol, with victory ensuring Real Madrid cannot catch them at the top of the table. Yamal’s effort and Fermin Lopez’s goal took Hansi Flick’s side seven points clear of Los Blancos with two matches remaining, to clinch Barcelona’s 28th title and complete a superb domestic treble. Only the UEFA Champions League title escaped an exciting young Barca side this season, as they won the league for the second time in six years, at Espanyol’s ground again just as in 2022-2023. Back then,
SSC Napoli will have to wait one more week to seal the Serie A title after on Sunday being held to a goalless draw at Parma, while closest rivals Inter drew 2-2 in a dramatic game with SS Lazio. Antonio Conte’s team stayed one point ahead of Inter and were unfortunate not to win after twice striking the woodwork through Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Matteo Politano, while Scott McTominay also had a free-kick tipped onto the crossbar. The away side thought they would be handed a chance to take the points from the penalty spot in the 96th minute when David Neres
Jannik Sinner on Thursday marched into the semi-finals of the Italian Open after destroying Casper Ruud in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Coco Gauff won a marathon three-set battle with China’s Zheng Qinwen to advance to the women’s singles final. American Gauff is to face Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in today’s title match after pulling through 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a match that lasted over three-and-a-half hours. Ruud was supposed to be Sinner’s toughest test in Rome since he came back from his three-month doping ban, as the Norwegian came into the match in hot form on clay after winning in
Omar Marmoush’s stunning long-range strike on Tuesday upstaged Kevin de Bruyne on the Manchester City great’s Etihad farewell. Marmoush let fly from about 30m to put City ahead in their 3-1 win against AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League. The victory moved Pep Guardiola’s team up to third in the standings and left qualification for the UEFA Champions League in their own hands heading into the last round of the season. “It’s really important. To be in the Champions League after what happened [this season] will be really nice,” the City manager said. De Bruyne was making his final home appearance for City before
RSS