How to Become a Football Agent: The Guide

Contents
Foreword by Robert Pires
Introduction
Chapter One
Getting Into the Business
	Internship or direct job application
	A contact in the industry
	Scouting
	General business person
	Conferences and events
	Family member or friend
	Buying an agency
	The expert’s view: Jack Pentol-Levy (Agent, Family & Football)
Chapter Two
Registering as an Agent
	FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)
	England: FA (Football Association)
	Germany: DFB (Deutscher Fußball-Bund)
	France: FFF (Fédération Française de Football)
	Spain: RFEF (Real Federación Española de Fútbol)
	Italy: FIGC (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio)
	Portugal: FPF (Federação Portuguesa de Futebol)
	Netherlands: KNVB (Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond)
	United States of America: USSF (United States Soccer Federation)
	Turkey: TFF (Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu)
	Australia: FFA (Football Federation Australia)
Chapter Three
The Work of a Football Agent
	Understanding football
	Networking
	Who do you work for?
	Location of work
	Qualities of a football agent
	Match days
	The expert’s view: Ilhan Gündoğan (Agent of Ilkay Gündoğan, Family & Football)
Chapter Four
Working with Players
	Working with established professionals
	Working with the friends and family of a player
	Working with the spouse or partner of a player
	Mental health
	Clients as recruiters
	The size of your client list
	The expert’s view: Nassim Touihri (Managing Director, Fair Play Career Management)
Chapter Five
Working with Youth Players
	Handling youth players
	Family of youth players
	Sponsorships and boot deals
	FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association)
	England: FA (Football Association)
	Germany: DFB (Deutscher Fußball-Bund)
	France: FFF (Fédération Française de Football)
	Spain: RFEF (Real Federación Española de Fútbol)
	Italy: FIGC (Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio)
	Portugal: FPF (Federação Portuguesa de Futebol)
	Netherlands: KNVB (Koninklijke Nederlandse Voetbalbond)
	United States of America: USSF (United States Soccer Federation)
	Turkey: TFF (Türkiye Futbol Federasyonu)
	Australia: FFA (Football Federation Australia)
	Most expensive teenagers (aged eighteen and under)
	The expert’s view: David Jackett (Global football consultant and agent)
Chapter Six
Working with Managers and Sporting Directors
	Being the agent of a manager
	Advantages of representing a manager
	Young managers
	Working alongside a sporting director
	The expert’s view: Harun Arslan (Owner, ARP Sportmarketing GmbH)
Chapter Seven
The Art of a Transfer
	Preparation for the window
	The strategy of the agent
	Role of the agent in a transfer agreement
	Mandates
	Transfer fee
	The personal side of a transfer
	Winter transfer window: a 2018 case study
	The expert’s view: Dr Erkut Sögüt (Agent of Mesut Özil, Family & Football)
Chapter Eight
Loans and ‘Free Agents’
	What is a loan?
	Advantages of loans
	Options to buy
	What is a ‘free agent’?
	Benefits and risks of ‘free agency’
	The expert’s view: Loren Román García (Agent of Lucas Pérez, Family & Football)
Chapter Nine
Contracts
	Representation Contract
	Employment Contract
	Contract renewals
	Tripartite Representation Contract
	The expert’s view: Daniel Geey (Sports lawyer, Sheridans)
Chapter Ten
Social Media and Marketing
	Image Rights Agreement
	Boot deals
	Endorsement deals
	Social media
	Personal brands
	The expert’s view: Chris Wheatley (Director, D2S Media)
Chapter Eleven
Working with the Media
	Interviews and media work
	Global sporting news outlets
	Working with journalists
	The expert’s view: Rory Smith (Chief Soccer Correspondent, New York Times)
Chapter Twelve
The Off-Pitch Work of an Agent
	Charity
	Property
	Tax
	Wealth management and investments
	eSports
	The expert’s view: Daniel Ross (Managing Partner, Ross Bennet Smith Chartered Accountants)
Chapter Thirteen
The Second Career of a Football Player
	Facing the reality of retirement
	Going about a player’s second career
	Football-related opportunities
Chapter Fourteen
A History of the Profession
	The early years
	Representation of football players
	Recognition by FIFA
	The Bosman ruling
	The expert’s view: Jörg Neubauer (Agent of Leon Goretzka and Kevin Trapp)
Chapter Fifteen
‘Show Me the Money’
	Wages
	Transfers
	Other projects
	Ownership and M&A (mergers and acquisitions)
	The expert’s view: Pere Guardiola (Director, Media Base Sports)
Chapter Sixteen
‘Global Views’
	Australia: Paddy Dominguez (Owner, Republic Sports Management)
	South America: Matthieu Rios-Grossin (Owner, Alinea Sports Management)
	North America: Costa Smyrniotis (Director & Agent, Axia)
	Asia: Dee Hong (Head of International Affairs, Footballade)
	Africa: Yussif Alhassan Chibsah (CEO & Founder, Club Consult Africa)
Chapter Seventeen
Example Contracts
	England: FA (Football Association) Representation Contract
	Germany: DFB (Deutscher Fußball-Bund) Intermediary Application Form
	Mandate for transfer
	Premier League Employment Contract
	Marketing deal
Conclusion