Football special report: Europe’s 20 most popular clubs (Part 3)
11. FC Zenit St. Petersburg 12.6 million
The newly crowned Russian Champions took Europe by storm when they managed to win the 2008 UEFA Europa League (formerly known as UEFA Cup) and subsequently 2008 UEFA Super cup by defeating Manchester United. However, failure to reach the
same heights over the next two years has taken its toll and Zenit’s following has decreased to a considerable degree. The Russian giants still managed an eleventh placed finish on this list with 12.6 million followers. With Luciano Spalleti doing wonders and
Sine-Belo-Golubye, Zenit will definitely improve in the next year’s rankings.
12. CSKA Moscow 10.5 million
At 12th place, we have yet another Russian entry; in the form of perennial Russian Premier League contenders CSKA Moscow. The Army Men have 10.5 million supporters across Europe but thanks to the large population
of Russia, much of the support comes from within the country. CSKA had a host of stars playing for them last year. The likes of Milos Krasic and Keisuke Honda were highly sought after and indeed Krasic was snapped up by Juventus FC this summer. The presence
of International stars has a big role to play with CSKA maintaining 12th position in the list.
13. FC Spartak Moscow 9.0 million
CSKA Moscow’s arch rivals Spartak Moscow are 13th in the list with 9.5 million followers. Narodnaya Komanda were a force to reckon with in the 90s and earlier part of last decade with the club winning nine titles
from 1992 to 2001. However, Zenit, Rubin Kazan and CSKA have taken over the former champions on domestic front. The Red-Whites have no European pedigree either with their last big game appearance coming in the semi-final of 1997/98 edition of Europa League
against Inter Milan. Russia is one of the biggest countries in the world in terms of population and Spartak’s European following has everything to do with that.
14. Olympique Marseille 7.8 million
The 1993 UEFA Champions League winner’s rank 14th in the list of most followed clubs. OM were a strong force in the primary European completion in 80s and early 90s before financially stronger Seire A, La Liga and
Premier League made their presence felt. The majority of 7.8 million followers are arguably older French citizens who started following the club more than two decades ago. With the club having won the 2010 Ligue 1 title and making regular appearances in the
Champions League once more, Olympique Marseille are sure to regain followers in the coming years.
15. AFC Ajax 7.1 million
For all their mediocrity in the recent years and the past decade, Ajax are one of the most prestigious clubs when it comes to European clubs. The conveyor belt of a youth setup has been producing prodigies over the years with breathless
consistency. It’s a shame De Godenzonen has to lose all the talent to bigger fish in the market. However, Ajax still has considerable European following as evident by a 15th placed finish with 7.1 million followers.
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