Biggest club in the world!!!!

[tilolas]

Benfica to pip Man United for Guinness world record

10 November 2006 |

Portuguese giants Benfica have set a new Guinness world record for the football club with the most paid up members, surpassing the previous record set by Manchester United, Portuguese media reported on Friday.

Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira and a Guinness World Record official will make the announcement at a press conference later on Friday, sports daily A Bola reported citing club officials.

The Lisbon-based club, founded in 1904, counts over 160,000 members following a membership drive launched earlier this year, compared to 152,000 members for previous record holders Manchester United.

[tilolas]

I am number 134,944!!!!

[mc_squared]

Maybe, but Man U have millions more "fans" worldwide (for example, most of China)!!
I doubt if people in China have even heard of Benfica!!

[Jenjie]

and, if wahtshisface hadn't taken over Man U, they'd have more paid up members. you just need to look at the memership list for FC United!!!

[mc_squared]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jenjie
and, if wahtshisface hadn't taken over Man U, they'd have more paid up members. you just need to look at the memership list for FC United!!!

---

How many members do they have, then?

[Jenjie]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mc_squared
How many members do they have, then?

---

way more than any other club in that division. they're doing wonders for gate revenues!!!!

[mc_squared]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jenjie
way more than any other club in that division. they're doing wonders for gate revenues!!!!

---

I have respect for their stand.

[Petit Prince]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mc_squared
Maybe, but Man U have millions more "fans" worldwide (for example, most of China)!!

---

true, there's loads of people who travel to england for just one game...

[mc_squared]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by .sally.
true, there's loads of people who travel to england for just one game...

---

And I bet that doesn't happen so often with Benfica.

[tilolas]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by .sally.
true, there's loads of people who travel to england for just one game...

---

I know that... I'm not in conditions to discuss that... but what I can say is that those are not real fans, those are fans of the Man U's. marketing!!!

Benfica is said to have 6 million supporters in Portugal, plus 3 million portuguese abroad... plus Angola, Mozambique and other african ex-colonies... even in Brazil...

of course african people can't afford to go watch football to Portugal like asians to England...

[mc_squared]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tilolas
I know that... I'm not in conditions to discuss that... but what I can say is that those are not real fans, those are fans of the Man U's. marketing!!!

Benfica is said to have 6 million supporters in Portugal, plus 3 million portuguese abroad... plus Angola, Mozambique and other african ex-colonies... even in Brazil...

of course african people can't afford to go watch football to Portugal like asians to England...

---

Well that goes to show that the vast majority of Benfica fans are Portuguese speakers, whereas Man U have fans who speak countless different languages.

[Ondes Martenot]

neither Benfica or Man U are the biggest clubs on the Earth, obviously.

SLB has more "paid supportes" than anyone else, although it doesn't mean too much. Man U are popular more thanks to their "good financial strategy" and flawless marketing than worldwide success (they became popular and "cool club to support" in 90s)

i'd say the most popular and (according to statistics) biggest club ever is Real Madrid. close 2nd might be FC Barcelona

also in top 5 would be Juventus, AC Milan and probably Liverpool or Man Utd, of course if we count only european clubs, because Boca or River for example would be near the top, too

[mc_squared]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Ondes Martenot
neither Benfica or Man U are the biggest clubs on the Earth, obviously.

SLB has more "paid supportes" than anyone else, although it doesn't mean too much. Man U are popular more thanks to their "good financial strategy" and flawless marketing than worldwide success (they became popular and "cool club to support" in 90s)

i'd say the most popular and (according to statistics) biggest club ever is Real Madrid. close 2nd might be FC Barcelona

also in top 5 would be Juventus, AC Milan and probably Liverpool or Man Utd, of course if we count only european clubs, because Boca or River for example would be near the top, too

---

But not on a "global" basis. Nobody cares about them outside of Argentina (and possibly other Spanish-speaking countries).

And Real's biggest "selling-point" worldwide is David Beckham. And why is he so popular? Because he played for MANCHESTER UNITED!!

[Petit Prince]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tilolas

Benfica is said to have 6 million supporters in Portugal, plus 3 million portuguese abroad... plus Angola, Mozambique and other african ex-colonies... even in Brazil...

of course african people can't afford to go watch football to Portugal like asians to England...

---

true but the same goes for english clubs, they also have fans abroad who cant afford to travel to england.

but there's also many english fans who can't afford to see their team, which doesn't suprise me if tickets are about 33£.

[mc_squared]

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by .sally.
true but the same goes for english clubs, they also have fans abroad who cant afford to travel to england.

but there's also many english fans who can't afford to see their team, which doesn't suprise me if tickets are about 33£.

---

Very true. Those ticket prices are a total rip-off (as are countless other things in the UK)!!