For all its star players and financial muscle, Englands Premier League failed to match the popularity of Germanys Bundesliga last season when it came to getting their fans through the turnstiles.

Germany led the way in terms of attendance in Europes five major leagues with an average of 42,600 per match, followed by the Premier League with 35,600, according to figures published by the football business unit of consultants Deloitte.

The Spanish league and Italys Serie A, which each attracted just under 25,000 fans a game over the season, are more popular domestically than the French league, which only draws around 21,000.

Taken together, the sheer number of supporters going to matches in Europe was impressive, doubtless helped by a highly entertaining season in many leagues.

A total of 13,535,272 fans followed the Premier League campaign, in which Manchester United won a record-equaling 18th title and the relegation dogfight went down to the last day, sending Alan Shearers Newcastle and Middlesbrough to the second-tier Championship.

Despite that dismal season, nearly 50,000 Geordies flocked to St. James Park each week to watch their team and although relegation will hit Newcastle hard financially, the Magpies fans are unlikely to stop digging into their pockets. Attendances are still expected to be good, even if the team will be playing the likes of Blackpool rather than Manchester United.

The passion of English fans also extends well beyond the bigger clubs of the topflight.

Not many visiting teams enjoyed the hostile atmosphere of Stoke Citys deafeningly loud Britannia Stadium last season. But the home fans certainly did, with Stoke marking its first time in the topflight since 1984-85 with an increase of nearly 60 percent in average home gates.

Stokes increase was not typical of the Premier League, where overall crowds were down 1.27 percent. It was still the second highest total since the Premier League started in 1992-93, though, and the second best topflight mark since 1976-77.

Even so, the figures show that Germany packed in an average of 7,000 fans a game more than the money-spinning Premier League and its most popular club could even match the likes of Man United.

Despite not being considered one of the top three European leagues in terms of quality, the Bundesliga boasted a seventh straight increase in crowds, totalling 13,027,226 for the 18-team league – two clubs fewer than the Premier League.

Although, the average ticket price in Germany is markedly lower than in England.

There was no shortage of excitement on the pitch as Wolfsburg shocked Bayern Munich by clinching the clubs first title, helped by strikers Edin Dzeko and Grafite setting a Bundesliga scoring record of 54 goals between them.

While Uniteds players retained their league title, helped by an average gate of 75,309 at Old Trafford, Borussia Dortmunds supporters were almost as devoted and numerous – with 74,788 typically turning out to watch the Schwarzgelben (Black and Yellows).

However, when it comes to big games – and big stadiums – both clubs took a back seat to Barcelonas Nou Camp.

Barca dominated Spanish football on the field and in the stands, winning a domestic double and the Champions League. Nearly 96,000 of its fans had hoped to see Barcelona seal the title on May 10, but a 3-3 draw at home to Villarreal meant Barca had to wait another week.

Over in Italy, crowds were on the rise, although the figures available have two rounds remaining. There was still clearly a marked rise from the average of 23,000 last year, and Milan remains the place to be seen in footballing terms.

Inter Milan won a fourth straight title and averaged 54,563 fans at the San Siro. AC Milan finished third, but outdid Jose Mourinhos team with an average of 59,012 at the same stadium – falling just short of Arsenals 60,040 at Emirates Stadium.

Two-time European Cup winner Juventus is only in 10th place with 22,318, but was playing in the smaller Stadio Olimpico while the Stadio delle Alpi is being rebuilt.

Either way, the situation is more encouraging than in France.

It can be very hard for some clubs to drum up enthusiasm in the French topflight, especially when it comes to away matches. In one of the low points of the season, only seven Caen fans traveled from Normandy to watch their team play in Sochaux on a cold night in December.

It certainly takes a lot to get Monaco fans excited, with the Stade Louis II stadium forging a reputation as one of the quietest in Europe. While it can offer attractive tax breaks to its players, it wont guarantee passionate fans.

Monaco is last in France for average attendance (8,511 – including its most famous fan, Prince Albert) and for percentage of stadium filled (45.95 percent).

Defender Jose-Karl Pierre-Fanfan sums up what he witnessed as a player with Monaco, and in a hotbed of British football at Ibrox Park, the home of Glasgow-based club Rangers.

Monaco is a good club, but they have a problem in terms of identity. The Monegasques follow football in the papers, but they dont go to the stadium, Pierre-Fanfan said by telephone.

Ibrox is a stadium which breathes football and you can feel there is a soul. Even outside the ground, people are screaming. They live for the club every day.

Though Marseilles Stade Velodrome would grace any league, with its season average 52,276 putting it above Liverpool and Chelsea, the rest of France is clearly lagging.

Despite highly affordable tickets, just under eight million (7,998,920) fans went to a French league game in the past year. The good news for next season is that Lens and Montpellier have been promoted and their passionate supporters should boost figures.

Posted on June 8th, 2009 by admin
Filed under: Soccer news