Last week I estimated how much English clubs would earn from the 2018/19 Champions League. Today I take a look at this season’s Europa League revenue for Arsenal and Chelsea #AFC #CFC

Although total Europa League revenue has significantly increased (by 40%) in 2018/19, two points are worth noting: (a) this is lower than the 54% Champions League increase; (b) the impact of the new UEFA coefficient (though only 15% of total distribution, compared to 30% in CL).

As a result, both #AFC and #CFC are estimated to earn less than last year. #CFC is obvious, as they were in the Champions League in 2017/18, but #AFC is due to the impact of UEFA coefficient & TV pool. As it stands (prior year in brackets):

#AFC €36m (€38m)
#CFC €40m (€65m)

#AFC Europa League revenue is €36m for reaching the final, down from €38m last season.

Includes: participation €2.9m, prize money €14.3m, UEFA coefficient €3.4m and TV pool €15.6m.

If they win the final, they will earn an additional €4m, bringing their total to €40m.

#CFC Europa League revenue is €40m for reaching the final, down from €65m in CL last season.

Includes: participation €2.9m, prize money €14.3m, UEFA coefficient €3.4m & TV pool €19.1m.

If they win the final, they will earn an additional €4m, bringing the total to €44m.

#AFC and #CFC have identical records in this season’s Europa League, receiving €3.3m for winning 5 group games & drawing 1 plus a €1m bonus for winning their group. Other prize money: last 32 €0.5m, last 16 €1.1m, QF €1.5m, SF €2.4m & Final €4.5m. Winners get extra €4m.

This means that the maximum prize money a Europa League winner can earn is €21.3m, up €5.6m from prior season’s €15.7m.

As a comparison, the maximum prize money the Champions League winner can earn is €82.5m. CL clubs get €15.25m just for participating in the group stage.

#AFC and #CFC have been hit by the UEFA coefficient, a new distribution method for 2018/19, based on performances in UEFA tournaments over past 10 years.

Although rated highest of the Europa League clubs (#CFC 6th, #AFC 9th), only €84m is distributed among the 48 clubs in EL.

This means that #AFC and #CFC only receive €3.4m from the UEFA coefficient, despite being the highest ranked in the Europa League.

They would have earned significantly more for this element if they were in the Champions League: #CFC would have got €29.9m; #AFC €26.6m.

Also worth noting impact of TV pool for clubs in group stage: (a) half based on previous season’s domestic competition; (b) half based on current season’s Europa League progress.

So #CFC get 60% of first half as FA Cup winners, while #AFC only get 40%.

My estimates for TV pool earnings are: #CFC €19.1m and #AFC €15.6m.

#AFC is much lower than 2017/18 TV pool (€29.0m) for 3 reasons: (a) qualified that season as FA Cup winners; (b) other English club #EFC did not get out of group; (c) money moved to UEFA coefficient in 18/19.

Note that these 2018/19 Europa League revenue numbers are only estimates. Key assumptions: (a) English TV pool increases by 30%, in line with the new BT Sports deal; (b) this has then been split 2/3 TV pool, 1/3 UEFA coefficient, as per total prize money distribution.

So the benefits of qualifying for the Champions League over the Europa League are clear. As it stands, English CL clubs have earned well over twice as much as EL clubs - even though 2 have reached the final:

#LFC €107m
#THFC €102m
#MUFC €93m
#MCFC €93m
#CFC €40m
#AFC €36m

What is striking is the dramatic improvement in European earnings at #THFC and #LFC, who earned no more than €6m as recently as 2014. Even since 2916, their revenue has grown by €81m & €69m respectively.

Over the same period, #CFC and #AFC have gone in the opposite direction.

However, the prize for consistency goes to #MCFC, who have earned by far the most from Europe over the last 5 seasons (€337m).

They are followed by #LFC €260m and #THFC €236m, who have overtaken #AFC €228m, #MUFC €220m and #CFC €213m. Yes

When Arsène Wenger once described a top four place in the Premier League as “a trophy”, he was widely derided, but these figures show that “Le Professeur” might just have had a point.