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A Central Element of Europe’s Football Ecosystem: Competitive Intensity in the “Big Five”

Author

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  • Fabio Wagner

    (Department of Sport Economics, Sport Sociology and Sport History, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Albert-Schweitzer-Straße 22, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

  • Holger Preuss

    (Department of Sport Economics, Sport Sociology and Sport History, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Albert-Schweitzer-Straße 22, 55128 Mainz, Germany)

  • Thomas Könecke

    (Policy in Sports & Physical Activity Research Group, KU Leuven, Tervuursevest 101, 3001 Leuven, Belgium)

Abstract

This study perceives professional European football as one of the most relevant event-related entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) worldwide. It also identifies a healthy sporting competition in the five most popular European football leagues (Spain, England, Germany, Italy, and France), the “big five,” as a key pillar for the functioning of this ecosystem. By applying a quantitative approach, competitive intensity (CI) is measured for all big five leagues for 21 seasons (1998/99 to 2018/19). The chosen method does not only convey an overall indication of the competitive health of the entire league but also provides detailed information on the four important sub-competitions (championship race, qualification for Champions League or Europa League, and the fight against relegation). In all five leagues, seasonal CI tends to decrease over time, and especially over the last decade. The main reason is a decline in the intensity of the championship race while all other sub-competitions show relatively robust CI values. Overall, it can be concluded that the competitive health of the big five is intact, but the dwindling CI of the championship races can harm the EE of professional European football in the long run. Accordingly, it should be closely monitored in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Fabio Wagner & Holger Preuss & Thomas Könecke, 2021. "A Central Element of Europe’s Football Ecosystem: Competitive Intensity in the “Big Five”," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:6:p:3097-:d:515229
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    2. Budzinski, Oliver, 2023. "(Sports) economics upside down? A comment on the Advocate General opinion in European Super League versus UEFA/FIFA," Ilmenau Economics Discussion Papers 173, Ilmenau University of Technology, Institute of Economics.

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