Apart from Leicester, every club that won the Premier League after Sheikh Mansour bought Manchester City in 2008 has spent over £1billion since that day.
And it’s no surprise that the number of trophies won by each of these clubs decreases with the amount of money spent.
Getty
Chelsea beat City 1-0 in the Champions League final last season
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Getty Images – Getty
Although Man City are the defending Premier League champions
In other words, money talks in football – and no one has thrown it around more than Saturday lunch opponents Chelsea and Man City in recent years.
Following their takeovers by super-rich men in the 2000s, both clubs have more than doubled the number of trophies in their cabinet.
Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal may have history on their side, but as Man City and Chelsea prepare for their title showdown on Saturday, the gift is theirs.
Of course, it was these two teams that contested the 2020/21 Champions League final, with the Blues emerging to ensure European success continued to elude City.
Manchester United remained dominant before 2013 and Liverpool re-established themselves as winning clubs in recent years, but they have fallen far behind Chelsea and City in both the trophy chart and the spending charts since 2008.
Most trophies won by English clubs since 2008
With Newcastle set to follow the mega-rich owner model created by Chelsea and City, the following stats will give them hope for a bright future.
The Blues, first and foremost, have spent £2.1billion since Roman Abramovich took over in 2003, by far the most of any top-flight club, resulting in 16 trophies – more than anyone in those 19 years.
Chelsea spending under Abramovich
2003-04: £153 million
2004–05: £149.9 million
2005–06: £82.5 million
2006–07: £80.2 million
2007–08: £53.2 million
2008–09: £37.5 million
2009–10: £27 million
2010–11: £109.4 million
2011–12: £86.9 million
2012–13: £91.2 million
2013–14: £115.7 million
2014-15: £124m
2015-16: £86.9 million
2016–17: £119.5 million
2017-18: £234.4 million
2018-19: £187.9 million
2019-20: £40.5m
2020-21: £222.5m
2021-22: £108m
GRAND TOTAL: £2.1 billion
And although City are yet to win the Champions League, they are England’s most successful club since Mansour took over in 2008, with 13 trophies in that time, having spent £1.8bn of pounds sterling.
Man City’s spending under Mansour
2008/09: £141.6 million
2009/10: £132.6 million
2010/11: £165.2 million
2011/12: £82 million
2012/13: £55.8 million
2013/14: £104.4 million
2014/15: £92.5m
2015/16: £187.4m
2016/17: £193.5m
2017/18: £285.8m
2018/19: £70.7m
2019/20: £150.1m
2020/21: £114.8m
GRAND TOTAL: £1.8 billion
Chelsea have been second best in that span with 10 trophies, spending £1.6bn over the past 14 years.
Man United – traditionally the biggest spenders in England ahead of the new era – are closest to them but still far behind, winning nine trophies since 2008 and dumping £1.4billion on players.
Man United spending since 2008
2008/09: £40.7 million
2009/10: £24.6m
2010/11: £26.4 million
2011/12: £56.1 million
2012/13: £68.8m
2013/14: £69.4 million
2014/15: £175.8m
2015/16: £140.4m
2016/17: £166.5m
2017/18: £178.6m
2018/19: £74.4m
2019/20: £211.3m
2020/21: £75.4m
2021/22: £126m
GRAND TOTAL: £1.4 billion
Meanwhile, Liverpool and Arsenal have spent over £1billion in that time but rank well below Chelsea and City when it comes to trophies.
Point? Perhaps success can be bought in football – and anyone who accused City and Chelsea of buying the league will feel vindicated all these years later.
But, as Man United have shown in recent years, money alone doesn’t get you far, if not invested wisely.
Chelsea and City are not only the biggest transfer spenders in the Premier League, they are also the biggest investors in their academies.
Newcastle’s new owners, led by Amanda Staveley, will dream of similar success in years to come
This is just one example of how they use their brains as well as their wallets.
That said, having the biggest wallet definitely helps.
Newcastle’s new owners will no doubt be watching City’s clash with Chelsea on Saturday with aspirations of following in their footsteps.
Meanwhile, everyone will watch with envy, or perhaps disdain, a match that symbolizes how success in football is, sometimes, about money.
Listen to Man City vs Chelsea live on talkSPORT at 12.30pm on Saturday!
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