Seeing Eye To Eye: Why Do Soccer Players Earn So Much ?

Soccer, or what is known internationally or outside the United States as Football, is a multimillion dollar industry, and the clubs and leagues have the cash to prove it. In a time of lists which tell us who is who in the rankings when it comes to pay, or the “best in the world” the question still remains – Why do soccer players earn so much?  Research shows that factors like sponsorship, investment, the skill set and prowess of the players on the field can serve as possible contributors to how much a player earns.

According to former Football League chairman Lord Mawhinney, “Football doesn’t have an income problem, it has a spending problem.” This could not be farther from the truth as fans have seen the a surge in ticket sales as players salaries rise higher. Critics argue that if football would like to increase sales and see players salaries be maintained, clubs and leagues would have to keep ticket prices down. Wouldn’t we all love that?

The Market Influences how players are bought

Football players do not have their salaries drawn out of thin air.  Like any other enterprise, the market affects how much they earn and ultimately why they earn what they earn. The writer of this article for the BBC argues that what makes football player salaries so curious to people is in football’s tangibility as a sport. Football is accessible to a lot of people as opposed to being the CEO of Microsoft or Apple who also see their salaries in the high level. The football industry is not just a sport, the passion, sponsorship and diversity of players both in skill and attitude has transformed it into an entertainment field, and with this entertainment comes higher expectations in branding for the player and the club, therefore money is poured into this part of the business.


The Football Player As An Investment

When we see players being traded or bought by clubs, it brings a deeper awareness to the sport, because we realize how much we forget about the business side of things. Considering the individual earnings of football players means that we have to think of the value the player is bringing into the team. Every player has a unique value, and this determines their worth in trading.  In 2014, UK publication- The Telegraph, compiled a list of some of the most expensive transfers in the history of soccer. Welsh player Gareth Bale holds the number one place on their list after a transfer from Tottenham to Real Madrid worth 86 million pounds. Cristiano Ronaldo followed up on the list with a whooping 80 million pound transfer when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid.

Clubs like Real Madrid and chelsea  have a history of buying high-profile players to raise performance levels and take the team towards championships

Turf Expectancy

Unlike actors or musicians, who can amass a ton of wealth well past their prime, Soccer players have an 8- 10 year period ( ten, if you’re lucky) before their clubs trade them off, or they find themselves benched or moving to the MLS. It’s an unfortunate reality of the sport, which is why many opt to coaching roles or take their personal brands further into other aspects of business, all with the aim of generating more income. Players like David Beckham and Didier Drogba are prime examples.

If you would like to learn more about why soccer players earn so much, visit this answer on Quora and this article by BBC Sport.