Economic-Financial Dimension of Italian Soccer Teams and Sports Results: some Relationships

Football is one of the most popular sports, especially in some countries like Italy. It has a remarkable social and educational importance. In recent decades, the high investments and business that characterizes this sport has highlighted the need for more careful regulation with respect to the economic and financial dynamics of each team. This quantitative research based on the balance sheets of Italian Serie A soccer teams highlighted the patrimonial, financial and economic characteristics of the clubs divided into two groups in relation to sports results. The major teams, often placed at the top of the rankings, have lower incomes, despite higher revenues. They have a better balance of medium-long-term sources/investments but, on the other hand, they have short-term solvency risks only mitigated by better cash flow. Further future developments of the research and an appropriate comparison with the international bibliography will allow more precise conclusions useful for the managers at the strategic level of the sector, as well as at the top of each individual company.