Euro earnings pass €10m mark as Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne figures are broken down
An eye-watering eight-figure prize money purse will be shared between Shamrock Rovers, Shelbourne and St Patrick’s Athletic this year.Shamrock Rovers players celebrate Graham Burke's goal against AEK Athens(Image: Giorgos Arapekos/NurPhoto via Getty Images)The League of Ireland’s European earnings have raced past the €10million mark this season - thanks to the exploits of Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne, with St Patrick’s Athletic also claiming a share of UEFA’s kitty.With just three teams competing this year, thanks to a controversial UEFA ruling on Drogheda United ahead of the draws, it’s an astonishing figure.Last season Shamrock Rovers brought home in excess of €7million when they made it all the way to the Europa Conference League play-offs in February, only to lose on penalties against Molde.This year the Hoops have already banked over €5million, with two games still to play where wins would take their earnings over €6million, with the prospect of progress once again to the knockouts.Rovers will be hoping to earn a few more quid after they picked up a €133,000 boost when they drew 1-1 away to AEK Athens on matchday three. They were just minutes away from a €400,000 win before a controversial penalty was awarded to the Greek giants.Shelbourne, in their maiden European league phase campaign, may be stuck on one point after four games, but they have already earned a cheque for a whopping €4.25million.And St Patrick’s Athletic earned €1,075,000 on their run to the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League.That means the three Irish clubs have already accumulated an astonishing €10,676,000 in UEFA prize money - with the prospect of more still to be added to the final pot.Here is the breakdown so far, according to Football Meets Data, for Rovers and Shelbourne, who each have two more games in which to add to their tally, while further income will be generated after the campaign when UEFA breaks down TV revenue bonuses.SHAMROCK ROVERSQualifying rounds: €530,000Progress to ECL League Phase: €3,170,000*Value Pillar: €1,491,000Points in League Phase: €133,000Minimum Ranking Bonus: €31,000Placing in League Phase table: €??TOTAL TO DATE: €5,355,000SHELBOURNEQualifying rounds: €700,000Progress to ECL League Phase: €3,170,000Value Pillar: €212,000Points in League Phase: €133,000Minimum Ranking Bonus: €31,000Placing in League Phase table: €??TOTAL TO DATE: €4,246,000ST PATRICK’S ATHLETICQualifying rounds x3 (€175,000 each): €525,000Elimination: €550,000TOTAL: €1,075,000*Ranking clubs’ countries based on domestic broadcasters’ contribution to overall revenue (Ireland are 22nd out of 28), as well as UEFA co-efficient ranking of each club.Shamrock Rovers are 21st out of 36 clubs in five-year UEFA co-efficient figures, giving them €1,008,000, while they are 16th out of the 36 clubs in terms of a 10-year co-efficient, adding €483,000Shelbourne’s five-year co-efficient ranking is 34th (€189,000), and 36th in 10-year co-efficients (€23,000).HOW THEY CAN EARN MOREShelbourne’s prospects of hitting the golden seven-point mark, widely considered to be enough to make the knockouts, are very low, considering they would need wins at home to Crystal Palace and away to Celje, who beat Rovers in Tallaght earlier in the campaign.However, with games away to Icelandic side Breidablik and at home to Hamrun Spartans of Malta, Rovers’ hopes of picking up the two wins they need to reach seven points are much greater. Remember, each draw is worth €133,000 and each win earns a club an additional €400,000.Not only would that fire them to a higher finish, with a minimum €28,000 extra on offer per place in the table, they could also secure a €200,000 bonus for reaching the play-offs.From there, qualification for the last-16 is worth an extra €800,000.Reaching the remaining rounds would earn clubs:Quarter-finals: €1,300,000Semi-finals: €2,500,000Final: €4,000,000Winners: €3,000,000Click here to sign up to our soccer newsletter, bringing you the top stories and biggest headlines from the League of Ireland and beyond
