Injured Manchester United footballer Lisandro Martinez lies on the grass Source: TASR/AP/Dave Thompson
LONDON – Germany’s Bundesliga players had the most injuries of any of Europe’s top five leagues last season, but the Premier League bears the most injury-related costs, according to a report by insurer Howden.
It confirms the upward trend of injuries in the top competitions in England, Germany, Spain, Italy and France. During the 2023/24 season, there were 4,123, which is an increase of four percent compared to the 2022/23 year and 37 percent more than in the 2020/21 season.
Injuries cost clubs in the five biggest leagues a combined €732 million in wages paid to players outside the game last season. Since the first release of the report for the 2020/21 season, there have already been 14,292 injuries, which cost clubs 2.3 billion euros in player wages.
Player health is an increasingly hot topic with regard to the expansion of European cup competitions and the Club World Cup, which increases the burden on an already busy schedule. The players’ organization FIFPro, the association of European competitions and also Spain’s La Liga filed an official complaint with FIFA on Monday about the crowded football calendar. They also warned that the players could go on strike.
The published data only underlines the constantly increasing physical demands on players. “As games in all competitions increase, we are seeing more and more players being sidelined for longer periods. With a remarkable five per cent rise in medical costs in the last season alone,” said James Burrows, Head of Sports at Howden.
Photo gallery (2) Injured Rodri from Manchester City Source: Profimedia
The report highlights a worrying rise in the severity of injuries to Premier League under-21 players, with each injury equivalent to an average of 44 days off work – up from 26.5 in the 2022/23 season. Knee injuries regardless of age reached a new high in the Top 5 leagues with 367 cases, costing clubs €141 million.
Last season, a football player was injured every 92 minutes in the five biggest leagues, costing teams an average of 172,975 euros per match. Bundesliga clubs had an injury every 52 minutes, while Darmstadt had an injury every 33 minutes. Mönchengladbach became only the second team to record more than 100 injuries in a season since the report was first published. Bayern Munich had 96 injuries and cost them €39 million, while champions Leverkusen only suffered 36 injuries at a cost of €3.45 million.
The total number of injuries in the Premier League fell from 944 in 2022/23 to 915. However, English clubs cost €318m compared to La Liga’s €142m. Manchester United had the highest costs in the Premier League with €39m paid out to players unavailable due to 75 injuries. Newcastle had the most injuries (76).
- Author: © List/
- Source: CTK
Injury Report: Football’s Painful Truth
Ladies and gentlemen, gather ’round! You’ve got your popcorn at the ready, but unfortunately, it’s more of a ‘watch out for the injury list’ kind of season for our beloved footballers. According to the latest gem from Howden insurance, it appears injuries are on the rise in Europe’s thrilling game. In fact, last season’s injury figures are about as shocking as a surprise plot twist in a soap opera—grim but utterly entertaining!
Bundesliga: The King of Misfortune
First off, let’s tip our hats to Germany: the Bundesliga has been crowned the league with the most injuries. Broken legs, strained muscles, and a few unfortunate falls from grace—we’re talking about more drama than a reality show reunion. But hold on, because while Germany’s players might be the most injured, it’s England’s Premier League that is draining club finances faster than a kid in a candy store. They’ve racked up whopping injury-related costs last season—€318 million to be precise—like they’re collecting expensive Pokémon cards.
Injury Woes: Numbers to Make You Swoon
Now let’s get into the hard-hitting stats that’ll have you clutching your heart. In the current season, we’ve seen a ginormous 4,123 injuries across the top five leagues—a delightful 4% increase from last year, and a jaw-dropping 37% surge since 2020/21. So, if you thought your gym routine was tough, try dodging a tackle from a six-foot-tall defender!
Last season, it was a game of “Injury Bingo” every 92 minutes, with a player going down like they’ve been hit by a bus. And the Bundesliga’s injury clock is ticking even faster—an injury every 52 minutes, with Darmstadt turning heads by managing to sprain something every 33 minutes. If only they ran a perks program for that level of commitment!
High Stakes, Higher Costs
Need a bit of drama? How about knee injuries? Those pesky joints reached a staggering 367 cases in the top leagues, causing clubs to cough up €141 million. Footballers are limping more than I do on a Monday morning after a wild weekend—thanks, Saturday night disco!
The Unfortunate Champions
On to the top performers in injury costs in the Premier League! Manchester United tops that list, paying €39m for 75 injuries. Talk about feeling the burn! Who needs other costs eating into the budget when your players are sitting out and costing you as much as a small luxury car? Meanwhile, Newcastle, ever so kindly, took the crown for most injuries: 76, leaving a mountain of couch time in their wake.
The Players’ Cry for Help
But it’s not all doom and gloom—rather, it’s a desperate plea from overworked players. FIFPro and buddies are waving their red cards at FIFA, threatening strikes over the increasingly crowded schedule. After all, footballers are not robots! If you treat them like machines, expect the inevitable breakdown. And with all these players sidelined, the only ones laughing are the insurers, sitting back like they’ve just seen the finest comedy act—except it’s not funny when it’s your favorite player on crutches!
Conclusion: Time for Change?
At the end of the day, football is a beautiful game plagued by its own physical demands. Clubs need to rethink their schedules, stop piling matches upon matches, and let these athletes breathe. Otherwise, we’ll end up hiring an entire fleet of doctors instead of scouting the next talent. Who needs Messi when you can get a doctor who knows all the best ‘get well soon’ cards?
So, there you have it—a delightful cocktail of injuries, costs, and a pressing need for reform in the beautiful game. Now, if only I could get my hands on the lottery ticket that predicts the next round of injuries! Stay tuned, folks, because we’re just getting started.
