Bayern Munich ‘most valuable’ football brand 2014 - Brand Finance

Bayern Munich, which won the championship and the German Cup, remained the most valuable football brand in 2014 worth an estimated $896 million, according to the Brand Finance Football 50 rating.

Germany's biggest club is followed by FC Real Madrid, which won the Champions League final on Saturday, and the Spanish Cup. The club's brand gained $147 million in value - to $768 million. The club already has the biggest sales of any football team.

Manchester United’s value lost $98 million compared to 2013 due to the unsuccessful season and Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement last year. Having led the way as football’s most valuable brand for several years, now the club's brand is worth $739 million. The Brand Finance report said that "shrewd commercial management" has shielded Manchester United's brand from more serious damage, according to the BBC.

"However, another season in the wilderness, outside the Champions League, will see brand value truly plunge, and leave few sponsors willing to do a deal with the [Red] Devils," the report said.

France's Paris Saint-Germain showed the most significant improvement. The club conquered, taking the French championship and league cup, boosting its brand value from 24th to 10th place, and is now worth $324 million against $85 million in 2013.

Brand Finance is an international independent intangible asset valuation consultancy founded in 1996. Started in the UK it now has a global network of offices and partners in 20 countries worldwide.

In November 2013, Forbes rated the most valuable teams excluding league income. FC Real Madrid took the lead with $450 million and Manchester United was third at $433 million.