FCK with the formula
By Marcus Christenson (uefa.com)
Clubs around Europe are having to dig deep to come up with anything resembling a transfer kitty this summer. Paying the price for over-spending in the past, coaches are being forced to wheel and deal their way through the close season.
Sensible management
However, FC København president Flemming Østergaard never bought into the hype - and that has put him in a very good position. The Danish champions' parent company, Parken Sports and Entertainment A/S, made a profit of €9.4m in 2001/02, and their strong financial results have put them in pole position to benefit from today's lower transfer fees and player wages.
'Decent prices'
"This is what it is all about," Østergaard told uefa.com. "More and more players will be available at decent prices and we will now be able to attract some very good players due to our solid financial platform.
Simple philosophy
"That is the way it has to work," he added. "You cannot spend money you have not got and a lot of clubs are paying the price for doing that in the past. Our philosophy is simple - if we earn €100 then we don't spend €110. Those are the rules in every other business but it hasn't been the case in football so far."
Financial success
Østergaard took over FCK in 1997 and has turned the club from a money-losing venture into a financial success. They have bought their home stadium and that is just one of many revenue streams the club can now count on.
Rising interest
Interest in FCK, founded in 1992 when two clubs - B 1903 København and KB København - merged, has skyrocketed. When Østergaard took control, their average home support was 7,000. That number is now nearly 30,000.
European dream
And with financial stability achieved, Østergaard is now waiting for results on the pitch. They will play either Sliema Wanderers FC or FC Skonto in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round at the end of July - and Østergaard is dreaming of playing in the lucrative group stage.
Sensible ambitions
"It would be great if the club qualified for the group stage but first we have to reach the third qualifying round and then see what happens because there are so many good teams in there," he said. "Our current ranking makes it difficult to reach the group stage but we came close to eliminating S.S. Lazio the last time we played in the tournament."
Financial regulations
Østergaard admits that he cannot wait for UEFA to introduce financial regulations that will make it impossible for clubs to spend money they do not have.
'Economic cheating'
He said: "There is a lot of talk about doping and how bad that is for sport and, of course, it is. Doping is one form of cheating but there is also economic cheating and that is when clubs spend more money than they have got".
'The bubble will burst'
"That is crazy and cannot carry on," he added. "If you look at results from football clubs around Europe from last year then you realise that the bubble will burst. It is very simple - you sit down and do a budget and then you keep to it. But people are not doing that at the moment.
Grim prediction
"I think we will see between 25 and 50 clubs going bankrupt in Europe within the next five years," he concluded. Unless, of course, they take a leaf out of the Østergaard management book.
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:extatic: Really great work by Flemming and his club.
They should host a convention, invite all boards of european clubs and teach them a thing or two about finances.
I am really excited now. Denmark may not be far from having a decent and solid team who will be able to compete in Europe. If they keep going at this rate, they could attract some better players. The only problem would be the prospect of playng in the danish league, which isn't very good except for a team or two.
BTW, FCK will be playing either Sliema Wanderers FC or FC Skonto in the 2nd qualifying stage of the Champions League. Does anyone have some info on either team, are they any good???
By Marcus Christenson (uefa.com)
Clubs around Europe are having to dig deep to come up with anything resembling a transfer kitty this summer. Paying the price for over-spending in the past, coaches are being forced to wheel and deal their way through the close season.
Sensible management
However, FC København president Flemming Østergaard never bought into the hype - and that has put him in a very good position. The Danish champions' parent company, Parken Sports and Entertainment A/S, made a profit of €9.4m in 2001/02, and their strong financial results have put them in pole position to benefit from today's lower transfer fees and player wages.
'Decent prices'
"This is what it is all about," Østergaard told uefa.com. "More and more players will be available at decent prices and we will now be able to attract some very good players due to our solid financial platform.
Simple philosophy
"That is the way it has to work," he added. "You cannot spend money you have not got and a lot of clubs are paying the price for doing that in the past. Our philosophy is simple - if we earn €100 then we don't spend €110. Those are the rules in every other business but it hasn't been the case in football so far."
Financial success
Østergaard took over FCK in 1997 and has turned the club from a money-losing venture into a financial success. They have bought their home stadium and that is just one of many revenue streams the club can now count on.
Rising interest
Interest in FCK, founded in 1992 when two clubs - B 1903 København and KB København - merged, has skyrocketed. When Østergaard took control, their average home support was 7,000. That number is now nearly 30,000.
European dream
And with financial stability achieved, Østergaard is now waiting for results on the pitch. They will play either Sliema Wanderers FC or FC Skonto in the UEFA Champions League second qualifying round at the end of July - and Østergaard is dreaming of playing in the lucrative group stage.
Sensible ambitions
"It would be great if the club qualified for the group stage but first we have to reach the third qualifying round and then see what happens because there are so many good teams in there," he said. "Our current ranking makes it difficult to reach the group stage but we came close to eliminating S.S. Lazio the last time we played in the tournament."
Financial regulations
Østergaard admits that he cannot wait for UEFA to introduce financial regulations that will make it impossible for clubs to spend money they do not have.
'Economic cheating'
He said: "There is a lot of talk about doping and how bad that is for sport and, of course, it is. Doping is one form of cheating but there is also economic cheating and that is when clubs spend more money than they have got".
'The bubble will burst'
"That is crazy and cannot carry on," he added. "If you look at results from football clubs around Europe from last year then you realise that the bubble will burst. It is very simple - you sit down and do a budget and then you keep to it. But people are not doing that at the moment.
Grim prediction
"I think we will see between 25 and 50 clubs going bankrupt in Europe within the next five years," he concluded. Unless, of course, they take a leaf out of the Østergaard management book.
----------------------------------------------------------------
:extatic: Really great work by Flemming and his club.
They should host a convention, invite all boards of european clubs and teach them a thing or two about finances.
I am really excited now. Denmark may not be far from having a decent and solid team who will be able to compete in Europe. If they keep going at this rate, they could attract some better players. The only problem would be the prospect of playng in the danish league, which isn't very good except for a team or two.
BTW, FCK will be playing either Sliema Wanderers FC or FC Skonto in the 2nd qualifying stage of the Champions League. Does anyone have some info on either team, are they any good???
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