18 Nov 2020 16:13:11
This debate about what represents a 'big' club is an interesting one. In my view, big clubs are clubs who firstly in their own domestic leagues have dominated the honours for many years and have also performed very well in Europe. This is regardless of the size of the country. Also, the support, locally and globally is a huge factor. So with those criteria, Rangers and Celtic qualify easily. Rangers have reached four European finals and won one, Celtic have reached three and won one. Both dominate Scottish football. Having mega money behind them makes teams 'big' though some teams have that but don't have the pedigree. Other teams I'd consider (in the UK only) as 'big' are:
Man Utd
Man City
Liverpool
Arsenal
Tottenham Hotspur
Chelsea
In England, Leeds United are sleeping giants as are teams like Nottingham Forest, Aston Villa, Wolves and Everton.
Abroad, it is easy to see that Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus and Bayern Munich all fit that description. Perhaps Benfica and Ajax too for past glories. PSG have megabucks but no pedigree.
There!
18 Nov 2020 16:42:51
If I'm being honest, all this bickering about being a big club' is no more than a pissing contest. Does my head in.
18 Nov 2020 17:12:34
Who is bickering? It is just a debate, a bit of banter.
18 Nov 2020 17:46:07
Doiger just a bit of chewing the fat between friends.
Big club - would have to say local and world wide support and or at least general awareness of club at a global level is key. I would add Newcastle to your growing list.
18 Nov 2020 17:50:36
Doiger, I was reading Mutton last week saying that he thought the Tim’s are a bigger club the Man City. I have to agree with him for the first time ever and City as a club have no where near the history of the big clubs in the uk? The money pouring into that club is rotten and nothing short of londering? A simple question guys, who would you rather manage from a prestige point of view, Man Utd, Liverpool or City? Utd or the Pool all day long?
18 Nov 2020 18:53:30
We are a big club along with celtic supporters all over the world but unfortunately due to massive gap in money compared to others mentioned there we will never be even close to being as good as them ever again. Even tho we are a bigger than likes of man city. Imo the only bigger clubs in Uk than rangers and celtic are man u and liverpool.
18 Nov 2020 20:59:45
If rangers and celtic were in the english premier league and getting the same riches as they get in that league and all things being equal, the only club that would be bigger than both rangers and celtic would be man utd and man utd only!
18 Nov 2020 21:09:12
Totally agree Paul, they r four biggest clubs in uk.
18 Nov 2020 22:24:20
Think your forgetting about city, who were a massive club before they were bought, but struggling until funded by Arab cash,
19 Nov 2020 00:20:24
Liverpool are bigger too coops. Multiple european cups huge worldwide fanbase.
19 Nov 2020 06:35:06
Not liverpool then SGL 😂😂if going by everything considered they are. Bigger stadium, global fan base, more money, multiple european titles. man u and liverpool are a bigger global brand than us that is a fact. Think rangers and celtic come after that though. No shame in that.
19 Nov 2020 06:37:34
Tom man city fan base is shocking. doesn't get called the empty had for no reason.
{Ed001's Note - I would love to agree with you but that is due to the Citeh fans being at loggerheads with UEFA and refusing to go to games in European competition. In the Premier League they tend to get a large crowd, averaging over 54,000 in 2018/19. They always had a big following within the Manchester-area, but their recent successes has given them a decent, and growing, worldwide fanbase. In Europe their attendance that season was around 37,000 because of the anti-UEFA protests. There is ill feeling that you may have noticed leads to them booing the Champions League anthem each game.}
19 Nov 2020 08:32:05
Paul86 Anfield isn’t bigger than ibrox or park head mate but I would still say Liverpool’s a bigger club than Man Utd and old firm I judge it on history. The global fan base thing isn’t as big to do with it as history and trophies. Liverpool probably biggest club in Britain on history, Man Utd on global fan base. Old firm are up there but lag behind on both.
19 Nov 2020 09:45:47
In gerrard we trust. Anfield holds almost 55k so holds more than ibrox but not more than the piggery.