Manchester City on Friday announced record-breaking revenues for the 2023/24 season which saw them enter the history books as the first English club to win four Premier League titles in a row.
According to the club's Annual Report, City's revenues increased to £715 million, with sustained profitability at £73.8 million.
The club’s three primary income sources – commercial, broadcast and matchday – all remained strong, the report said.
City enjoyed a record-breaking 2023, winning the Premier League, Uefa Champions League, FA Cup, Fifa Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup.
They followed that up by retaining their Premier League crown in 2024 – becoming the first club to win the title for four consecutive seasons.
“Our constant ambition to target and achieve the unprecedented is a mark of the organisation that we have become," said City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
“On and off the field, our passion for the next challenge is underpinned by deliberate and detailed planning and a shared belief in the collaborative learning culture that we have built.
“This organisational approach is now part of our DNA. It is a product of the unwavering focus on constant improvement, in every aspect of the organisation, that has been in place since His Highness Sheikh Mansour became the club’s custodian in 2008.”
In June, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, received Manchester City officials after the club won their historic fourth consecutive Premier League title.
City's chief executive officer, Ferran Soriano, added: “Our fourth consecutive Premier League title was an achievement that took Manchester City to a place no other English club has ever been.
“Winning the treble in the previous season did not generate any sense of complacency in our teams on or off the pitch. We understand very well that the relentless pursuit of beautiful football, operational excellence, and constant innovation requires hard work and resilience.”
The Annual Report also highlights several achievements which summarise an extraordinary year for the club.
Midfielder Rodri was rewarded for his excellence on the field with the Ballon d'Or, football’s most prestigious individual award.
City's youngsters also took home the FA Youth Cup and the women’s team qualified for the Uefa Champions League.
Investment in infrastructure remained a core focus for the club, with work commencing on the £300m expansion of the Etihad Stadium, as part of a wider project to develop a best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment destination at the Etihad Campus.
In numbers
- Number of children under five will fall from 681 million in 2017 to 401m in 2100
- Over-80s will rise from 141m in 2017 to 866m in 2100
- Nigeria will become the world’s second most populous country with 791m by 2100, behind India
- China will fall dramatically from a peak of 2.4 billion in 2024 to 732 million by 2100
- an average of 2.1 children per woman is required to sustain population growth
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Abu Dhabi Card
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,400m
National selection: AF Mohanak
5.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 90,000 1,400m
National selection: Jayide Al Boraq
6pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 100,000 1,400m
National selection: Rocket Power
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship Listed (PA) Dh 180,000 1,600m
National selection: Ihtesham
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 1,600m
National selection: Noof KB
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 2.200m
National selection: EL Faust
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs: 2018 Renault Megane
Price, base / as tested Dh52,900 / Dh59,200
Engine 1.6L in-line four-cylinder
Transmission Continuously variable transmission
Power 115hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 156Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.6L / 100km