"As Ludogorets celebrated becoming Bulgarian champions once again last summer, history reared into view - only Tafea, from the South Pacific archipelago of Vanuatu, could top their 14 successive titles. Just one more to tie the world record. Yet the most dominant club in Europe have not reached the Champions League for a decade - seemingly too powerful for their domestic league but not strong enough to trouble the continent's elite, and highlighting the disparity in a delicate ecosystem."
"At the top of the food chain, a Champions League that began for title winners in 1992 this season boasts six English sides, five Spanish and four each from Italy and Germany - four nations accounting for more than half the 36 league-phase teams. While the competition has increased in size and value - Uefa's TV rights grew from just shy of 500m in 2003-04 to 2.8bn in 2023-24, with the new cycle from 2027 expected to generate more than 4bn"
Ludogorets achieved 14 consecutive Bulgarian titles, a run surpassed only by Vanuatu's Tafea, yet the club has not reached the Champions League group stage for a decade. The Champions League now features heavy representation from England, Spain, Italy and Germany, which together supply more than half of the 36 league-phase teams. Uefa's TV rights rose from just shy of 500m in 2003-04 to 2.8bn in 2023-24, with the 2027 cycle expected to exceed 4bn. The pool of winners has narrowed, outsiders rarely reach late stages, though expansion has allowed occasional upsets such as Bodo/Glimt.
Read at www.bbc.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]