Athletico Madrid

[barneygumble]

|To be fair to Atletico they are well over €100m in debt, but that gets overseen by the LFP, which is undoubtedly the most bent 'big' government in europe, notably turning a blind eye to other big teams of Barca and Valenci, and actually partially paying for Real Madrid (just like the Government do), but when the likes of smaller clubs like Espanyol, Rayo, Málaga all got banned and fined for being an estimated '€10m' in debt.
Since the rumblings of Málaga have happened, they've consistently grassed up Atletico, and then an already crippled Valencia, they've reluctantly had to agree to 'monitor' the situation, and Atletico have had to cut back.

That said, it's not like they are miracle workers working on buttons, and whilst i've got nothing but praise for Simeone, a look at the records show Atletico's spend for the last 13 years since they've been back in the top flight are actually similar to Liverpool's.

02/03 - 17.000.000 £
03/04 - 6.800.000 £
04/05 - 11.500.000 £
05/06 - 18.500.000 £
06/07 - 43.000.000 £
07/08 - 26.500.000 £
08/09 - 20.500.000 £
09/10 - +750.000 £
10/11 - 8.900.000 £
11/12 - 5.200.000 £
12/13 - +13.000.000 £
13/14 - +38.500.000 £

Which, considering they're being considered little old Atletico, they've spent significantly, and had it not been for the Falcao scenario, they'd be well over £150m in net spend.

But don't take away the credit of Simeone, he's done a great job, but to think that Atletico are just doing an Everton is not thinkable, mayble similarly now, due to the fact they're going to go the same way as Valencia and Deportivo soon enough mind...#
I'm happy for the underdog, so hope they go the full way, because it's so refreshing for neither Real or Barca to win!

This is a good read. http://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/04/...uilt-a-world-class-team-with-spiraling-debts/

 

[Carlito]

They remind me of Valencia under Benitez (only Atletico are better to watch). It's good to see that one-off dream seasons are still possible.

 

[Allezfan]

|To be fair to Atletico they are well over €100m in debt, but that gets overseen by the LFP, which is undoubtedly the most bent 'big' government in europe, notably turning a blind eye to other big teams of Barca and Valenci, and actually partially paying for Real Madrid (just like the Government do), but when the likes of smaller clubs like Espanyol, Rayo, Málaga all got banned and fined for being an estimated '€10m' in debt.
Since the rumblings of Málaga have happened, they've consistently grassed up Atletico, and then an already crippled Valencia, they've reluctantly had to agree to 'monitor' the situation, and Atletico have had to cut back.

That said, it's not like they are miracle workers working on buttons, and whilst i've got nothing but praise for Simeone, a look at the records show Atletico's spend for the last 13 years since they've been back in the top flight are actually similar to Liverpool's.

02/03 - 17.000.000 £
03/04 - 6.800.000 £
04/05 - 11.500.000 £
05/06 - 18.500.000 £
06/07 - 43.000.000 £
07/08 - 26.500.000 £
08/09 - 20.500.000 £
09/10 - +750.000 £
10/11 - 8.900.000 £
11/12 - 5.200.000 £
12/13 - +13.000.000 £
13/14 - +38.500.000 £

Which, considering they're being considered little old Atletico, they've spent significantly, and had it not been for the Falcao scenario, they'd be well over £150m in net spend.

But don't take away the credit of Simeone, he's done a great job, but to think that Atletico are just doing an Everton is not thinkable, mayble similarly now, due to the fact they're going to go the same way as Valencia and Deportivo soon enough mind...#
I'm happy for the underdog, so hope they go the full way, because it's so refreshing for neither Real or Barca to win!

This is a good read. http://worldsoccertalk.com/2014/04/30/how-atletico-madrid-built-a-world-class-team-with-spiraling-debts/

Yeah, they're only paupers relative to Real and Barca. They're a rich club by any objective method.

But the gap is still there. And it's the gap and the way it can or can't be bridged that interests me.

Barca and Real both pay wages and transfer fees of 4 times what Atletico do and Atletico are currently playing better.

 

[ste d' indica]

Yeah exactly. The percentage of lower league clubs to go into administration is scary.

Luton ended up charging more for their season tickets in non league than some prem teams were in order to compete with the likes of crawley cos there's no TV money down there and yet wages are still pretty high.

Jesus, that's really worrying. Looking at the Atlético situation, yes dodging your financial responsibilities is reprehensible but when there when seems to be little penalty for default, it's always likely. I bet there are others in La Liga at it. But is the foundation any more shaky than leveraged debt (MUFC, LFC) or oil money that could evaporate on the whim of a tycoon. Fans are just as screwed either way.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Yeah, you're right, but I don't care about Atletico.

I care about what they represent.

I think they represent antiquated ideas in relation to football finance to be honest

In modern times, I'd rather football clubs focus on financial stability rather than spending themselves into debt

 

[davek]

I disagree Dave.

Yes, they haven't paid their bills and are riddled with debt but that's not the point.

The point is, however they earned their money, their squad cost less and is paid less then their rivals and is doing better.

Like Dortmund and Montpellier, Atletico are a sign from europe that the inequalitys between the super rich and the non super rich are not unsurmountable, if you're managed well enough. Which, as another team facing domestic rivals who outspend us 4:1 is good news for us.

As purely an example of that, that fact that if they'd paid their taxes they shouldn't be able to be even spend as much as quarter of what Real and Barca do is irrelevant.

Yes, maybe. But if you dont pay taxes and leave your staff without payment and throw all that at team affairs then that is an advantage gained on all other competitors outside the Big Two in La Liga.

They probably equate to Liverpool over here, another club (laughingly) said to be punching above their weight. It's a huge achievement, but not a miracle. They have a Barcelona in transition and a Madrid team as preoccupied with securing La Decima as La Liga.

Imagine if Everton where able to give Martinez all the funds coming in from player sales and didn't care about running up huge debts on top of the debt we already have and got hold of borrowing from somewhere. That's what it'd take for Everton to emulate what Simeone has done in Spain with Atletico.

 

[Allezfan]

I think they represent antiquated ideas in relation to football finance to be honest

In modern times, I'd rather football clubs focus on financial stability rather than spending themselves into debt

Again I don't care about Atletico.

I care about the fact that their wage bill is 70million euros compared to the 200million euros of both real and Barca.

It's an example of how to attract and keep players better than teams who can offer 4 times the wages and also spend more on transfer fees. The fact that teams like Atletico and Dortmund can do that gives me hope for Everton.

Especially since we can afford a 70million euro wage bill while also paying our taxes.

 

[Mikey_Fitzgerald]

Again I don't care about Atletico.

I care about the fact that their wage bill is 70million euros compared to the 200million euros of both real and Barca.

It's an example of how to attract and keep players better than teams who can offer 4 times the wages and also spend more on transfer fees. The fact that teams like Atletico and Dortmund can do that gives me hope for Everton.

Especially since we can afford a 70million euro wage bill while also paying our taxes.

Yeah, but we've also got to deal with at least 6-10 very good sides in our league

Athletico have to deal with 2-4, at most

 

[Billy Dean]

Again I don't care about Atletico.

I care about the fact that their wage bill is 70million euros compared to the 200million euros of both real and Barca.

It's an example of how to attract and keep players better than teams who can offer 4 times the wages and also spend more on transfer fees. The fact that teams like Atletico and Dortmund can do that gives me hope for Everton.

Especially since we can afford a 70million euro wage bill while also paying our taxes.

The problem is though, IMO, for clubs like Atleti and BVB, their leagues are not as competitive. They have 1 (Bayern) or 2 (Real, Barca) financial juggernauts to compete with whereas we have 4 or 5. So it's easier for them to establish themselves in Europe.

 

[Deleted member 28206]

Wow. Their debt is alleged to be €500m

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/01/qpr-higher-wage-bill-than-atletico-madrid

 

[Garrick]

Yeah, but we've also got to deal with at least 6-10 very good sides in our league

Athletico have to deal with 2-4, at most

With the 14/15 Europa League giving Champions League qualification, though, thankfully we were just given an end run around trying to crack the top 4. That's something Atletico never had.

Being in the Prem still makes the entire thing harder to sustain, yeah, but there will also be more avenues to get it done.