UEFA releases country coefficient rankings, Spain remains first

UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) updated its country coefficient rankings on 22/08/2014, the day after the playoffs for the 2014-15 Europa League. The top seven countries, in order, were Spain (82.142 points), England (68.962), Germany (65.7), Portugal (54.049), Italy (53.510), France (43.416) and Russia (42.915 points).

The ranking is based on the current season and the four previous seasons, and a tabulation of the points made by clubs from each national association involved in the Champions League and Europa League. This ranking determines the number of clubs in both events for the subsequent season; thus, if Russia were ahead of France at the end of the 2014-15 season, Russia would get three clubs (instead of two) in the Champions League in 2016-17, and France would get two (instead of three).

Game results determine the number of points for each club (see details below). The number of points for each member federation is calculated at the end of the season by adding up the points scored by its clubs in the Champions League and Europa League, and dividing this…