5. Liverpool
Historically, Liverpool are one of the most successful teams ever. The Merseyside-based club have won five European Cups, with only Real Madrid, AC Milan and Bayern Munch winning as many or more. The Reds have also won 18 league titles, which is second to only Manchester United. After the advent of the Premier League, and with the league being televised to different parts of the world, Liverpool have become one of the most popular football clubs with a large portion of their fanbase being situated in South-East Asia. To capitalize on their popularity, the club have made frequent pre-season trips to Asia.
4. Wimbledon
Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and is definitely the most popular. With it, comes a lot of tradition. It is only tennis tournament that till date maintains a dress code of all-white. With a prize money of £22,600,00, Wimbledon is one of the richest sporting events as well.
3. England Rugby
Rugby is not one of the most popular sports on the planet. Hence, it is a bit of a surprise to see them on the list. The English Rugby Union team’s finest moment came in 2003 when they lifted the World Cup after an inspired performance from Jonny Wilkinson. With England hosting the next Rugby Union World Cup in 2015, the sport in the country is doing very well.
2. Manchester United
Manchester United are often considered as the most famous football club in the world. They were the biggest benefactors of the Premier League boom in the 1990s and the noughties. The Red Devils enjoy immense support from fans worldwide, with a lot of fans living in other countries making long trips to watch a game at Old Trafford, which is commonly referred to as the Theatre of Dreams. Sir Alex Ferguson retired earlier this year after 26 successful years at the club, but early indications are that it won’t affect Manchester United’s popularity a whole deal.
1. 2012 London Olympics
The 2012 Olympic Games, held in London, were one of the most memorable Olympic Games ever. The Games were lit up by the world-class performances from the likes of Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Mo Farah, etc. The opening and closing ceremonies were especially a delight. Not only did the Brits do well with the organizing bit of the Games, they were also very successful in the sporting events as they completed the event with an all-time high of 29 Gold medals.