Hearts and Hibs 'guaranteed' European prize money as pair rake in seven figures from Conference League
Hearts and Hibs are both making tidy sums of cash from European involvement this term.
Hearts and Hibs are both set to land ‘guaranteed’ seven figure sums from their Conference League involvement - with the Jambos holding a route to more cash.
The Jambos have reached the UEFA tournament’s league phase, after exits from the Champions League and Europa League qualification rounds, before play-off joy in the Conference against Rapid Vienna. Hibs meanwhile navigated their way past Malisheva and Shkendija before a heartbreaking play-off loss to Gent at Easter Road knocked them out.
Celtic are the only other side in Scotland to be playing league phase football this season, in the Europa League, after an exit from the Champions League. Rangers were eliminated by Jagiellonia Bialystok in the Europa League then Jablonec in the tier below, while Motherwell’s Conference run ended at the play-off round against Freiburg.
How much will Scottish clubs gain from European football?
Each club has earned prize money for their participation in the respective UEFA tournaments with Football Meets Data findings showing how much cash at present each side has banked. Hearts’ run to the Conference’s league phase will see them take home a minimum of £4.28m to the Gorgie coffers before matchday gate receipts are totted up and more could be generated with an extended run. Data modelling predicts that a total of £5.29m could be earned as they face Trabzonspor, Thun, Monaco, Borac Banja Luka and Pafos before Christmas.
Hibs’ run from the second qualifying round to the play-off stage, like Motherwell did with wins over HB Torshavn and HJK Helsinki, will earn them £1.1m before gate receipts. Rangers have earned the least on £923k but Celtic will earn £11.16m by the end of their Europa League campaign, projected to gain as much as £13.34m.
Back on the domestic scene and it was defeat for the Edinburgh duo in their most recent games. Hearts were hammered 7-1 by Celtic, who travel to Hibs this weekend, after new boss Marink Reedijk suffered a 2-1 home loss versus Falkirk.
What did Hearts and Hibs say after recent matches?
Jambos head coach Wouter Vrancken said: “I've already had a few tough ones. This is sport, but this is not the most pleasant side of it. It's a disappointing result, of course, and a disappointing performance in some ways. It's a pity that it happened now because we were on a good run. The result is the most disappointing thing, and the players who made individual mistakes know it, of course. The important thing for me now, after what happened, is that we recognise that it has happened and move on.”
Hibs manager Reedijk commented: "I think we are a thief of our own wallet. I think we gave away two easy goals. I think we dominated the game. I think we created a few good chances. I think we have to create even more chances. And that's what I think of the game. I think we dominated, but we need to make more of that out of this game. If you dominate in this way, you can't lose."