Manchester United become football's first 'billion dollar' brand

Despite two consecutive trophyless seasons, the Red Devils have leapfrogged both Bayern Munich and Real Madrid to top Brand Finance's 2014 Football 50 ranking

By Odunayor 

Manchester United have been named the most valuable football club in the world and have become the first "billion dollar" brand in the sport.

The Red Devils reclaimed their place at the top ofBrand Finance's Football 50 Brand Value ranking, despite a transitional and trophyless season under new manager Louis van Gaal, and are now worth an all-time high $1.2bn - a staggering growth of 64 per cent.

From third in the previous analysis, United leapfrogged Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, both beaten Champions League semi-finalists, to regain top spot even though they missed out on European football altogether in the 2013-14 campaign. Madrid have also been pipped to top spot in a separate Brand Power ranking, this time by rivals Barcelona.

United first claimed top spot in the Brand Value stakes in 2009 after winning the Champions League a year previously, and recorded their previous highest brand value of $853m in 2012 following success in the Premier League and second place in Europe's top club competition.