The Price of Football by Kieran Maguire Summary

The Price of Football demystifies football club finance, analyzing balance sheets, revenue streams, wage dynamics, and ownership models. It explains how clubs generate income through sponsorships, broadcasting deals, and player transfers while highlighting financial risks like debt and mismanagement. Real-world examples from Premier League clubs illustrate concepts like Financial Fair Play (FFP) and asset valuation.

Serious football fans, finance professionals, and journalists seeking to decode club finances will find this book invaluable. It’s tailored for readers curious about why clubs overspend on transfers, how owners profit, and the long-term sustainability of football businesses. Kieran Maguire’s accessible explanations make complex accounting principles understandable for non-experts.

Yes—critics praise its clarity, real-world case studies, and relevance. Reviews highlight its ability to transform dry financial data into engaging insights, such as how Manchester City’s sponsorship deals circumvent FFP rules or why clubs like Barcelona face financial collapse. A portion of royalties supports Ukrainian relief efforts, adding ethical value.

• Balance sheets: How clubs report assets (players, stadiums) and liabilities (debts).
• Wage-to-revenue ratios: Why player salaries often exceed sustainable levels.
• FFP loopholes: Tactics used by elite clubs to bypass spending caps.

Maguire argues that many owners prioritize vanity projects over fiscal responsibility, citing examples like overspending on aging stars or unsustainable stadium expansions. He also examines the Premier League’s “big six” dominance and how financial rules protect their status.

Yes. It teaches readers to analyze club accounts, identify red flags (e.g., rising debt or questionable sponsorship deals), and assess whether owners are acting in the club’s long-term interests. For instance, Maguire explains how to spot “creative accounting” in transfer fee amortization.

Some readers find chapters on ratio analysis overly technical, and the focus on UK clubs may limit appeal for fans of other leagues. However, Maguire mitigates this with glossaries and relatable analogies, like comparing player valuations to stock market trades.

Updated for 2025, it covers recent crises like post-pandemic revenue drops, Saudi-led club acquisitions, and UEFA’s updated FFP regulations. New case studies include Chelsea’s spending under Todd Boehly and the financial fallout from the European Super League collapse.

Unlike David Conn’s The Fall of the House of FIFA, which focuses on corruption, Maguire emphasizes teachable financial frameworks. His blend of academic rigor and fan-centric storytelling makes concepts like cash-flow management more engaging.

With rising transfer fees, state-owned clubs, and existential debates about football’s financial inequality, the book provides tools to understand headlines like Manchester United’s debt or Paris Saint-Germain’s sponsorship deals. It’s a primer for fans navigating the sport’s evolving economic landscape.

Maguire teaches the Football Industries MBA at the University of Liverpool and regularly comments on club finances for BBC, Sky Sports, and The Athletic. His blend of academic expertise and media experience ensures credibility and accessibility.

Absolutely. By explaining financial transparency, the book empowers supporters to challenge reckless spending or opaque ownership. For example, Maguire details how fan-led protests influenced policy changes at clubs like AFC Wimbledon.