The ten most supported club sides in European football.
Arguably, the world’s biggest football clubs are all housed in Europe, but how do you judge that? A club may fill its stadium week in week out, but how do you judge exactly who the biggest is? Here at CaughtOffside, we know it isn’t just the amount of bums clubs put on seats, so we’ve taken than into account alongside other facts to bring you the top ten most supported teams in Europe.
10. AC Milan
Average Attendance: 39,875
Facebook Fans: 12,063,696
Twitter Followers: 1.4m
The Italian giants may not have enjoyed a good season last year, but their global appeal outstretches that of rivals Inter and Juventus. A steady supply of star players donning the famous black and red shirt always helps, though their average attendance for the past campaign remains alarmingly low.
9. Galatasaray
Average Attendance: 32,910
Facebook Fans: 11,957,284
Twitter Followers: 3.88m
The turkish giants are perhaps the biggest surprise inclusion on the list, but they have seen their stock rise considerably over the past two years thanks to the acquisitions of the likes of Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder. Dumping Juventus out of the Champions League no doubt won them some new fans, but like Milan, their attendances are shockingly low considering their size.
8. Manchester City
Average Attendance: 47,075
Facebook Fans: 14,120,894
Twitter Followers: 1.86m
The Premier League champions recent success has had a lot to do with the club’s recent spike in supporters, but their rise to the top of the rich list probably had a similar effect. However, though their online support has risen, their fan base is still mostly made up of Manchester natives, unlike their cross city neighbours.
7. Bayern Munich
Average Attendance: 71,000
Facebook Fans: 17,854,754
Twitter Followers: 1.32m
The German champions enjoy an enormous home support thanks to their recent move to the Alianz Arena, and where their Facebook following thrives – their Twitter presence dwindles in comparison. Their appeal is worldwide, having won the World Club Cup last year, but still they fall short where 140 characters are concerned.
6. Liverpool
Average Attendance: 44,670
Facebook Fans: 21,350,111
Twitter Followers: 2.9m
Liverpool maintain a strong presence on both social media channels and have a lot of dedicated blogs and affiliates, but Anfield’s low capacity in relation to not only their own fans base but in terms of keeping up with their rivals holds them back where they should be thriving.
5. Arsenal
Average Attendance: 60,015
Facebook Fans: 26,413,242
Twitter Followers: 4.1m
Arsenal’s clever use of Twitter has seen them surge ahead of Liverpool when it comes to numbers, and their heavy output when it comes to shareable content on Facebook leaves many competitors trailing behind. Their move to the Emirates Stadium has seen their attendance’s jump, and despite only winning one trophy in nine years they have managed to fill it consistently.
4. Chelsea
Average Attendance: 41,480
Facebook Fans: 32,647,985
Twitter Followers: 4.07m
Jose Mourinho’s return may have had something to do with the rise of Chelsea’s online followers, as the Special One always has something to say, but their continued success and heavy spending has made them popular for breaking news. However, like Liverpool, the size of their ground belies the true size of the club.
3. Manchester United
Average Attendance: 75,205
Facebook Fans: 52,860,095
Twitter Followers: 2.79m
Still widely supported all over the world despite a tough, trophy-less season. United were surprisingly late to join Twitter considering they were the first club to truly exploit the new television deals in the 1990s. However, they have gained a considerable amount of followers to match the high numbers they reach elsewhere and rank as the most supported British football club.
2. Real Madrid
Average Attendance: 71,565
Facebook Fans: 66,977,444
Twitter Followers: 11.9m
Real Madrid are now officially the second biggest club on earth to match their recent record of finishing as runners up in their domestic league every season. Their collection of star players from all over the world help spread their appeal and their rivalry with Barcelona goes back generations.
1. Barcelona
Average Attendance: 72,115
Facebook Fans: 69,815,552
Twitter Followers: 12.1m
Their moto is not ‘more than a club’ for a reason, and their appeal spans all borders and platforms. Wether it be monitory or political reasons, or just simply the way they play, Barca’s reach has gone well beyond that of everybody else, and once they begin winning again those numbers will likely grow even further.
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