LEADING accountancy firm Deloitte recently released its annual Football Money League 2015 report, which highlights the top 20 highest earning football clubs across the globe.

The report, which focuses on the 2013/14 season, saw many clubs move in and out of the top 20, with eight of those featured playing in the English premier league.

In addition to the usual suspects, such as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus, the report revealed that the number of Premier league teams in the top 20 is at an all-time high.

Aggregate annual revenue also exceeded €6bn for the first time, with two clubs – Real Madrid and Manchester United breaking the €500m mark.

Real Madrid also managed to complete the Double Decima, retaining the top spot for the tenth successive year. A substantial stadium development alongside the continuing commercial success helped the Spanish giants maintain their strong performances both on the pitch and on the balance sheet.

So what does it take for a club to make it into the big money league top 20?

If the report was based on ticket sales alone, then the report would reveal a very different story since ticket sales have fallen to their lowest ever level, despite the aggregate annual revenue increasing. To compare, the 2004/5 season saw ticket sales represent around a third of annual revenues, whilst the 2013/14 revenues now stands at a lowly 20 per cent.

On the other hand, broadcasting and commercial activity revenues have jumped to an all-time high. Last season marked the first time that any football club has earned more than €200m in a single season from broadcasting revenue, proving that to gain a foothold in the top 20, the club needs to generate substantial broadcasting revenues and sizeable commercial deals, as well as a good performance in their relevant competitions.

One thing for sure is that it will take a massive push for any of the clubs to break into the top five of Real Madrid, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and PSG, who finishes in this order respectively in the 2013/14 season.

The North East saw a representative return to the top 20, following a void period of six years, as revenues of €155.1 million saw Newcastle United creep into 19th place. The magpies saw revenues increase by 35 per cent, despite a rather frustrating season on the pitch. The clubs finances were, as with most other clubs in the top 20, propped up by an increase in broadcasting revenue.

The future of football is becoming increasingly commercialised, a trend that isn’t expected to slow down in the upcoming years. One thing to look forward to is thee likeliness that the Money league will continue to include more English teams in the coming years, as the Premier League continues entice football fans across the globe, with many seeing it as the best football competition in the world.

Oliver York is based at Brewin Dolphin in Newcastle.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily the views held throughout Brewin Dolphin Ltd. No Director, representative or employee of Brewin Dolphin Ltd accepts liability for any direct or consequential loss arising from the use of this document or its contents. Any tax allowances or thresholds mentioned are based on personal circumstances and current legislation which is subject to change.