The 10 Most Valuable Soccer Teams in the World in 2014

In the imaginary world of “football vs. football,” it’s once again soccer that wins. While NFL franchises are spread throughout the updated list of the 50 most valuable sports teams in the world, it’s soccer clubs who sit on top of the throne.

Spanish football ruled the world in 2013-14, with the country being responsible for Europa League and Champions League winners. Thus, it’s not surprising that the top-two teams atop this list call Spain home. At the opposite end of the top-ten is a proud club that possesses five European Cups and 18 Leagues.

Here are the 10 most valuable soccer teams in the world in 2014.

Values courtesy of Forbes

10. Liverpool — Value: $691 million

Liverpool fans are over the moon after what was a dream season. The club was one literal slip away from potentially winning the Premier League title. LFC did well to end their Champions League drought.

All of that said, they have a rough road ahead of them now that their key man has left the club.

Fans and critics alike can bash disgraced front man Luis Suarez until they are blue in their faces. All of the abhorrent acts that he has committed over the years do not erase that Suarez was, in 2013-14, the best striker on the planet. A player with Suarez’s quality is not merely replaced.

Go ask Tottenham if you don’t want to take my word for it.

9. Juventus — Value: $850 million

It’s been quite the roller coaster ride for Juve and for supporters of the club. Juventus cruised to a Serie A title this past season, finishing 17 points ahead of second-place Roma. They will again be favorites to win the league for the upcoming campaign.

It wasn’t all rosy for The Old Lady last season, however. They were bounced out of the group stages of the Champions League. They squandered a chance to play a Europa League Final on their own patch, Then, after the World Cup, fan-favorite manager Antonio Conte shocked many when he left the club.

8. AC Milan — Value: $856 million

Money doesn’t always buy success in sports. Milan are proof of this. The club finished atop the Serie A table in 2011, and they were behind only Juventus the following season. 2013-14 was an absolute disaster for Milan, however, as they finished in eighth and without any European football.

Kaka leaving Milan for Major League Soccer side Orlando City isn’t a massive blow. Selling Mario Balotelli, were that to happen, could be a different story. Balotelli can be a head case and incredibly tough to deal with, but his talent, which he put on display while featuring for Italy in the 2014 World Cup, cannot be denied.

7. Manchester City — Value: $863 million

The Abu Dhabi United Group took City over in 2008. Since that time, the club has struck footballing partnerships at both ends of the earth. City are a shareholder of Yokohoma F. Marinos of the J-League. They own a majority stake in A-League side Melbourne City. In May of 2013, it was announced that City had paired up with the New York Yankees to create Major League Soccer expansion side New York City Football Club. That MLS franchise will begin play at the start of the 2015 MLS campaign.

While City have struggled on European football’s grandest stage, they’ve enjoyed plenty of success at the domestic level. They have netted Premier League titles twice in the past three seasons. City won the FA Cup back in 2012, and they hoisted the League Cup title in 2014.

6. Chelsea — Value: $867 million

The first year of the Jose Mourinho reunion tour did not go exactly as planned. Chelsea fell off during the final third of the campaign, and, while The Blues did well to finish above several rivals, they could not get past either Liverpool or Manchester City in the Premier League table.
That said, Chelsea will again be contenders to win multiple trophies this coming season.

Their midfield is as good as is any in England. Mourinho could beat rivals for the signature of Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira. Chelsea could be on the verge of acquiring a world class defender.

All of that said, one can’t help but wonder how long the marriage between Mourinho and owner Roman Abramovich will last.

5. Arsenal — Value: $1.331 billion

Arsenal have, over the past decade, completed several smart business moves. They cashed in on a stadium naming rights deal with Emirates Airlines. They’re netting $50 million per year on a kit deal. The Gunners also rake in cash by qualifying for Champions League every season.

Arsenal could prove to be Premier League title contenders in 2014-15, and that’s even if they don’t acquire Sami Khedira during the summer transfer window. Mathieu Debuchy is an underrated signing, and he fills a hole in the squad.

Now, the Gunners just need Mesut Ozil to find his Real Madrid form.

4. Bayern Munich — Value: $1.85 billion

It must be good to be the monarch of a league.

Bayer Leverkusen, Schalke and Borussia Dortmund are all fine clubs, teams capable of contending for Champions League spots. Bayern are simply in a class above the rest of the league, and it’s going to be that way for the foreseeable future.

Just how stacked is this club? Toni Kroos, the best player at the World Cup according to at least one index, left Bayern to sign with the best team in the world (more on them later).

It’s a safe bet that Bayern won’t miss him as it pertains to Bundesliga play.

3. Manchester United — Value: $2.81 billion

United’s worth took a slight hit when compared with a couple of clubs located in Spain after the defending Premier League champs failed to qualify for the Champions League. Still, at a few shades under a $3 billion evaluation, the Glazer family has to be feeling pretty good about their investment.

No disrespect meant to one David Moyes, but United have upgraded in Louis van Gaal. Van Gaal did well in leading Holland on what was an unexpected World Cup run that ended one shootout shy of the Final. He will now be tasked with bringing United back to the top of the league table.

He is, on paper, the right man for the job.

2. Barcelona — Value: $3.2 billion

The sports world often witnesses drastic overreactions. Barcelona are an example of this. 
Following a season in which rivals Real Madrid won multiple trophies and Atletico Madrid won La Liga, some couldn’t help but wonder if this era of Barca supremacy had come to a halt.

Then, the club went and aligned Lionel Messi, maybe the best player in the world, with the world’s top striker: Luis Suarez.

The Barcelona brand is one of the most recognized in all of world football. Barca are expanding the Camp Nou so that it will be able to seat a total of 105,000 fans for home matches. Don’t worry about these Spanish giants.

They’re going to be just fine.

1. Real Madrid — Value: $3.44 billion

The old saying is often true when it comes to sports. The rich truly do get richer.
Roughly two months after Real Madrid hoisted the Champions League trophy, the club announced that it had acquired German World Cup star Toni Kroos. That not enough for you?

Real have also just signed World Cup breakout star James Rodríguez.

This comes one summer after the team broke the all-time transfer record to acquire Gareth Bale from Tottenham Hotspur. Yes, the same Bale who netted the extra-time goal that won Real the Champions League.

Oh yeah. Real still have Cristiano Ronaldo on the team.

Well, thats your top 10 Richest Clubs in the World...now its time to reflect...how much do you earn in a year?

For more info see www.prosoccer.co.za

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Nike and Manchester United Unveil Third Kit

For the 2014-15 season, Manchester United will play in a stylish and innovative new third kit. 
Consisting entirely of two tones of blue, the kit is inspired by United’s tradition of blue kits from the 1980s, as well as uniform worn when they became the first English side to win the European Cup in 1968.

The shirt, shorts and socks are all a rich and vibrant blue on the front with a darker tone of the same color on the entire back. These two tones are divided by a red stripe on both sides of the kit representing United’s famous home color. 

These stripes stretch from the collar, along both shoulders, down each side of the shirt, shorts and right down to the socks. 

 

The half-and-half appearance is a traditional football design, but this is the first season it has ever been used on the front and back. 

The shirt boasts a classic design with a sophisticated polo neck collar and three buttons in the darker tone of blue. 

Inside the back of the neck is a label with the message, "Youth, Courage, Greatness" to represent the club’s values. 

The new third kit will be available to purchase on www.prosoccer.co.za or in stores from September 25. 
While this new kit features Nike’s signature style and passion, it has also been designed to offer players the very latest in performance innovation, kit technology and environmental sustainability. 

NIKE DRI-FIT TECHNOLOGY 

Nike Dri-Fit technology draws sweat away from the body to the exterior of the shirts and shorts where it quickly evaporates. 

This allows players to perform at their absolute best by remaining cooler, drier and more comfortable.

The laser-cut ventilation holes and mesh panels featured in key areas of the kit also improves performance by increasing air circulation to the players’ bodies and regulating their temperatures throughout ninety minutes on the pitch. 

The kits are made of a new dual-knit fabric consisting of both cotton and recycled polyester, which as well as removing sweat offers a softer feel and an overall more flattering appearance. 

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Nike continues to place environmental sustainability at the heart of their kits, which are again made from recycled polyester this year. 

These kits have been created to provide both unrivalled performance benefits and lower environmental impact. 

The kits are made from recycled plastic water bottles. The shorts are 100 percent recycled polyester; the shirts are 96 percent recycled polyester, while the socks are 78 percent. 
Each kit is made using an average of 18 recycled plastic bottles, and over the last four years Nike has diverted almost two billion of these bottles from landfills to produce their kits.

By using recycled polyester Nike is also reducing the energy consumed in the entire process by up to 30 percent.  

A NEW AND UPDATED PERFECT FIT 

Nike took 3D body scans of many of the world’s leading footballers to create a kit with an updated and perfect new fit. 

The new fit allows the body to move more naturally within the kit, and so effortlessly improves players’ comfort and performance. 

The Nike Elite Match fit sock for 2014 also boasts a sleeker and updated design created especially for football. 

Nike’s designers spoke to many of today’s elite players to gain an insight in to what they wanted from a sock during a game. 


There are now strategically cushioned zones to provide comfort and protection around the big toe and the anklebones where the majority of impact occurs, while arch support provides a firm foundation for the foot to prevent any slipping. 

There is less material on the sock to enhance players’ touch, while flex grooves on the ankle and top of the foot prevent bunching.

 

For more info see www.prosoccer.co.za

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Nike and Paris Saint-Germain Unveil New Away Kit for 2014-15 Season

Paris Saint-Germain will wear a new away kit this season capturing their modern spirit: stylish and cultured with flashes of brilliance.

The away shirt is white with a white stand collar trimmed in blue, white cuffs with blue trim and an oversized Paris Saint-German crest on the chest.

On the back of the neck is a small detail of red and blue stripes to represent Paris Saint-Germain’s home colors.

Inside the back of the neck is a white pennant tab with a blue border and the message: "Ici C’est Paris" (Here it’s Paris). 

The club’s core values are represented by their three colors: elegance (blue), passion (red) and respect (white).

The new away shorts are red, and the socks are white with a wide tonal stripe of chevrons on the back.

While this new kit features Nike’s signature design details, it also offers players the very latest in performance innovation, kit technology and environmental sustainability.

NIKE DRI-FIT TECHNOLOGY

Nike Dri-FIT technology draws sweat away from the body to the exterior of the shirts and shorts where it quickly evaporates. This helps players to perform at their best by remaining cooler, drier and more comfortable.

The laser-cut ventilation holes and mesh panels featured in key areas of the kit are designed to increase air circulation to the players’ bodies to  help regulate their temperatures throughout ninety minutes on the pitch.

The kits are made of a new dual-knit fabric consisting of both cotton and recycled polyester, which as well as removing sweat offers a softer feel and an overall more flattering appearance.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Nike continues to place environmental sustainability at the heart of their kits, which are again made from recycled polyester this year. These kits have been created to provide both unrivalled performance benefits and lower environmental impact.

The kits are made from recycled plastic water bottles. The shorts are 100 percent recycled polyester; the shirts are 96 percent recycled polyester, while the socks are 78 percent recycled polyester.

Each kit is made using an average of 18 recycled plastic bottles, and over the last four years Nike has diverted almost two billion of these bottles from landfills to produce their kits.
By using recycled polyester Nike is also reducing the energy consumed in the entire process by up to 30 percent. 

A NEW AND UPDATED PERFECT FIT

Nike took 3D body scans of many of the world’s leading footballers to create a kit with an updated and perfect new fit. The new fit allows the body to move more naturally within the kit, and so effortlessly improves players’ comfort and performance. 

The Nike Elite Match Fit Football Sock for 2014 also boasts a sleeker and updated design created especially for football.

Nike’s designers spoke to many of today’s elite players to gain an insight in to what they wanted from a sock during a game. There are now strategically cushioned zones to provide comfort and protection around the big toe and the anklebones where the majority of impact occurs, while arch support provides a firm foundation for the foot to help prevent slipping.
There is less material on the sock to enhance players’ touch, while flex grooves on the ankle and top of the foot help to prevent bunching.

For more info see www.prosoccer.co.za

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Manchester City and Nike Unveil Away Kit for 2014-15 Season

This season Manchester City will play in a new away kit that emphasizes their proud status as Barclays Premier League Champions, while providing a subtle reference to a key moment in their history.

The away shirt features a dark blue collar with a lighter blue V-shaped insert, and the body consists of a series of blue bands.

These tonal bands are dark blue at the top of the shirt and gradually become lighter travelling to the hem creating a striking modern graphic.

In May 1999, Manchester City famously scored two late goals to secure a 2-2 draw against Gillingham in the Second Division playoff final at Wembley before winning in a penalty shoot-out and securing promotion back to the First Division.

On that day, City triumphed wearing an away shirt of dark blue and yellow stripes. To honor that memorable occasion, this season’s away shirt features yellow names and numbers on the back, and the Nike Swoosh and sponsor’s name in yellow on the front.

Inside the back of the neck is a dark blue pennant tab with the bold statement "We are City" in yellow.

The new away shorts are dark blue and the new away socks are also dark blue with a lighter blue at the top. The away socks have a wide tonal stripe of chevrons on the back.

The new away kit will be available to pre-order from July 25 and to purchase in stores and from Prosoccer.co.za from July 29. 

While this new kit features Nike’s signature design details, it also offers players the very latest in performance innovation, kit technology and environmental sustainability.

NIKE DRI-FIT TECHNOLOGY

Nike Dri-Fit technology draws sweat away from the body to the exterior of the shirts and shorts where it quickly evaporates. This helps players to perform at their absolute best by remaining cooler, drier and more comfortable.

The laser-cut ventilation holes and mesh panels featured in key areas of the kit are designed to increase air circulation to the players’ bodies to help regulate their temperatures throughout ninety minutes on the pitch.

The kits are made of a new dual-knit fabric consisting of both cotton and recycled polyester, which removes sweat while providing a softer feel and an overall more flattering appearance.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Nike continues to place environmental sustainability at the heart of their kits, which are again made from recycled polyester this year. These kits have been created to provide both unrivalled performance benefits and lower environmental impact.

The kits are made from recycled plastic water bottles. The shorts are 100 percent recycled polyester; the shirts are 96 percent recycled polyester, while the socks are 78 percent.
Each kit is made using an average of 18 recycled plastic bottles, and over the last four years Nike has diverted almost two billion of these bottles from landfills to produce their kits.
By using recycled polyester Nike is also reducing the energy consumed in the entire process by up to 30 percent. 

A NEW AND UPDATED PERFECT FIT

Nike took 3D body scans of many of the world’s leading footballers to create a kit with an updated and perfect new fit. The new fit allows the body to move more naturally within the kit, and so effortlessly improves players’ comfort and performance. 
The Nike Elite Match fit sock for 2014 also boasts a sleeker and updated design created especially for football.

Nike’s designers spoke to many of today’s elite players to gain an insight in to what they wanted from a sock during a game. There are now strategically cushioned zones to provide comfort and protection around the big toe and the anklebones where the majority of impact occurs, while arch support provides a firm foundation for the foot to prevent any slipping.
There is less material on the sock to enhance players’ touch, while flex grooves on the ankle and top of the foot prevent bunching.

For more info see www.prosoccer.co.za

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Nike And Mamelodi Sundowns Unveil Away Kit For 2014-15 Season

Reigning South African Premier Soccer League champions Mamelodi Sundowns return to their traditional blue and white colors for this year’s away matches, after donning an all-white away kit for the past two seasons.

 The shirt features large multi-tonal blue chevrons from the shoulder to mid-section with a bold yellow trim on the cuffs. The shirt has a V-neck collar with a thinner yellow trim. 
The new away shorts are white, while the new away socks are white with a distinctive yellow band and green trim.

The new away kit will be available on www.prosoccer.co.za and in stores from July 2014.
Nike’s signature style and design insights are incorporated into the new away kit and offer players the very latest in performance innovation, kit technology and environmental sustainability. 

---

NIKE DRI-FIT TECHNOLOGY

Nike Dri-FIT technology draws sweat away from the body to the surface of the shirt and shorts where it quickly evaporates. This allows players to perform at their absolute best by remaining cooler, drier and more comfortable.

 Laser-cut ventilation holes and mesh panels in key areas of the kit also improve performance by increasing air circulation to the players’ bodies and regulating their temperatures throughout 90 minutes on the pitch.
The kits are made of a new dual-knit fabric consisting of cotton and recycled polyester, which as well as removing sweat offers a softer feel and an overall more flattering appearance.

---

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Nike continues to place environmental sustainability at the heart of their kits, which are again made from recycled polyester.
The kits are made from recycled plastic water bottles. The shorts are 100 percent recycled polyester; the shirts are 96 percent recycled polyester, while the socks are 78 percent.

Each kit is made using an average of 18 recycled plastic bottles; over the last four years Nike has diverted almost two billion plastic bottles from landfills to produce kits.
By using recycled polyester Nike is also reducing the energy consumed in the entire process by up to 30 percent. 

---

A NEW AND UPDATED PERFECT FIT

Nike took 3D body scans of many of the world’s leading footballers to create a kit with an updated and improved fit.
The new fit allows the body to move more naturally within the kit, and so effortlessly improves players’ comfort and performance.
The Nike Elite Match fit sock for 2014 also boasts a sleeker and updated design created especially for football.

Nike’s designers spoke with many of today’s elite players to gain insights in to what they wanted from a sock during a game.
There are now strategically cushioned zones to provide comfort and protection around the big toe and the anklebones where the majority of impact occurs, while arch support provides a firm foundation for the foot to prevent any slipping.
There is less material on the sock to enhance players’ touch, while flex grooves on the ankle and top of the foot prevent bunching.

For more info see www.prosoccer.co.za

Remember to Follow Us:

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Nike Ordem Ball Set for New Season Debut in Three Top European Leagues

Barclays Premier League, La Liga BBVA and Serie A TIM to kick off with the Nike Ordem ball.

Barclays Premier League, La Liga BBVA and Serie A to kick off with the Nike Ordem ball.

Nike, the official ball supplier to three of the biggest leagues in Europe — Barclays Premier League, Serie A TIM and La Liga BBVA — has unveiled the new Ordem football for the start of the new season. It is Nike’s most innovative, technologically advanced and aerodynamically tuned ball to date.

Barclays Premier League Nike Ordem ball

In a game that’s more physically and technically demanding, the Nike Ordem football allows players to take control of the game knowing the ball will stay true.

La Liga BBVA Nike Ordem ball

Built for the next generation of footballers, the Nike Ordem offers optimal touch with new fuse-welded panels, unprecedented flight control with new aerodynamic NIKE AEROW TRAC grooves and maximum visibility with Nike RaDaR technology to help see the ball quicker.

Serie A Nike Ordem ball

The Nike Ordem ball is designed and engineered for a highly sensitive feel and explosive response off the foot. The ball consists of 12 fuse-welded panels in a three-layer casing system, and a poly-blend wrapped, free-floating carbon latex bladder.

Barclays Premier League Nike Ordem ball

The Nike Ordem features NIKE AEROW TRAC grooves, Nike Football’s newest proprietary innovation. The grooves are engineered to grip and channel the air to produce the truest trajectory and most consistent flight, which help ensure stability and accuracy in mid-air.

La Liga BBVA Nike Ordem ball

The surface of the Nike Ordem is emblazoned with Nike’s RaDaR (Rapid Decision and Response) technology. This is a graphic pattern, unique to each league, which creates a flickering effect as the ball rotates. RaDaR makes it easier for players to see the ball in their peripheral vision, allowing for faster reactions and decision-making.

Serie A Nike Ordem ball

For more info see www.prosoccer.co.za

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