Manchester United go top of the table (in soccer’s global rich list) again after 11 years behind Real Madrid

The Red Devils are a long way from winning the English Premier League again but are back on top as soccer’s biggest moneymakers

Reading Time:2 minutes

Fans pose for photographs in front of Old Trafford stadium. Manchester United have regained top spot in the global soccer rich list. Photo: AFP

Published: 10:19am, 19 Jan 2017

Manchester United are a long way from winning the English Premier League again but are back on top of another table – as soccer’s biggest moneymakers.

For the first time since 2005, Manchester United overtook Real Madrid in top spot in the soccer finance rankings compiled by accountancy firm Deloitte even as they sit sixth in the Premier League.

In 2015-16 when United won only the FA Cup and failed to qualify for the Champions League, the 20-time league champions generated £515.3 million (€689 million, HK$632 billion).

Spanish champions Barcelona had €620.2m in revenue and Real Madrid, who won an 11th Champions League title in May, dropped to third on €620.1m in Deloitte’s 20th annual rankings.

United’s stay at the top could be short-lived with the pound weakening since Britain voted to leave the European Union in June and their failure to reach the Champions League.

United’s revenue is aided by their 75,635-capacity Old Trafford stadium, the biggest club stadium in the Premier League. Photo: AFP

Despite Jose Mourinho replacing Louis van Gaal as manager, United are struggling to break back into the top four Champions League qualification places let alone win their first Premier League title since Alex Ferguson’s retirement in 2013.