New UEFA landscape report shows popularity of European football
Thursday, September 12, 2024
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More people than ever before are watching football in Europe. That is one of the main takeaways in UEFA's latest European Club Talent and Competition Landscape report, looking at current trends in European football, which has just been published.
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One of two annual publications that have now evolved from the highly influential and long-running benchmarking report on European club football, the report offers an unprecedented analysis of the player, coach, and competition landscape, showing how European football really functions and the state of play in 2024.
"One of UEFA's primary goals in establishing its own intelligence centre was to gain access to factual data and information, which is essential in decision-making processes. In recent years, we have all witnessed significant negativity, often driven by vested interests eager to undermine the success of European football. We've heard claims that football is losing its appeal, that attendance at live events has declined, and that we need to change our beloved sport — how it's played, enjoyed, and organised.
"The facts state a different story. This report reveals a new record for viewership of men's and women's football in Europe – 229 million supporters attended football matches during the 2023/24 season, showcasing a growing enthusiasm among fans for stadium experience despite the allure of streaming services and social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram."
The report also has the latest data and analysis of the summer transfer window, one less dominated by English and Saudi club liquidity and more focused on youth. European clubs spent a total of €6.7 billion on transfers this summer, 8% down from the record set in summer 2023 but still the third highest window on record.
The report, which again features a complementary website, also focuses on how clubs are adapting their squad usage to manage player workloads with more substitutions, more players used and minutes spread wider across their squad, especially in cup competitions. It also examines the ever-shorter tenure of head coaches and looks at how the domestic club competition landscape continues to return to stability after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The UEFA president concludes: "UEFA will continue to listen to the voices of national associations, leagues, clubs, players, coaches, match officials and fans, fostering open dialogue within the football community. Accurate data is vital to these efforts, enabling us to make informed decisions that benefit everyone involved. By doing so, we aim to strengthen trust and support among all stakeholders while safeguarding, protecting and promoting the significance of football in our lives and society."