Football is reputed as the most popular sports in the world. The game is played by approximately 250 million individuals spread over 200 countries. It has an estimated four billion global audience.
As at 2021, football holds its place among the richest sports in the world. Footballers enjoy the bulk of the luxury. However, not every lover of the game ends ups on the pitch. Others build careers from the sidelines just like making an income from online casinos.
A football agent is one of such of professions. These individuals represent players and handle all elements of their careers. They guide them on career choice and ensure they are sufficiently paid for their time.
It can be extremely rewarding, especially for those who are good at the job. And with anywhere between 5% and 10% of a players contracts generally being paid directly to them, extremely lucrative.
As a football agent, you will be responsible for:
SCOUTING TALENT
A key part of the job is attending football matches and sporting events to find talent that you can work with, represent and take to the next level.
By getting talented footballers on your books, you give yourself leverage to trade talent and earn a living.
FINDING OPPORTUNITIES
Once you have the talent on your books, you need to link up with the right organisations, including clubs, to find lucrative opportunities that hit yours and your client’s expectations.
Even if they’re with a club, there might be a better deal around the corner that better matches their career aims.
PRESS AND MARKETING
If you want to become a football agent, get used to dealing with journalists and the press.
You need to market your clients in the media, respond to press enquiries and arrange interviews and media appearances. Some agents even manage their client’s social media accounts while playing best uk online casinos.
COLLABORATIONS
Like press and marketing, you need to find sponsorship and endorsement opportunities for your client.
After all, there’s plenty of money to be made through exclusive deals with brands – it’s not just about what happens on the pitch.
HAVING YOUR CLIENT’S BACK
When there’s a dispute between your client and the club they’re employed by, or a brand that endorses them, you’re responsible for representing them and ironing things out.
Legal tasks are a substantial part of being a football agent, so you must be comfortable with the law.
CONTRACT NEGOTIATION
One of the key parts of being a football agent is negotiating contracts and ensuring that contracts meet legal guidelines and are presented to clubs in the right format.
Some agents work with solicitors to do this but understanding the process and what you’re looking at when you glance a contract is, nevertheless, crucial.
PERSONAL SUPPORT
If your client is experiencing personal problems, loss of form or are feeling under pressure, it’s your responsibility to act as someone they can talk to, rely on and receive guidance from.
How to become a football agent
Although no formal education is required, here are easy steps to guide you.
Registration
This is the first step to becoming a professional football agent. As of 2001, all football agents had to be registered by FIFA. Right now, it is required that you are registered by your country’s football association. In case of dual citizenship, then you will have to seek registration using the most recent citizenship. The applicant has to send a written application for a players’ agent’s license to the relevant association. Applicants that work as an employee or official at FIFA or any other football organization are ineligible as stated in FIFA regulations Players’ Agents.
Examination
After a successful application and the association has confirmed that all the requirements are met, you will be invited for an examination. You will be given multi-choice questions that you shall have to answer under the surveillance of the association and FIFA.Examinations are usually held in March and September. The exact dates are announced by FIFA in the months of January and June so that the applicant can get ample preparation time. The most essential knowledge tested is on football regulations (mostly concerning football transfers) ,civil law and law of obligations.
Insurance
Once you have passed the examination and before issuing you a license, the association has to ensure that you have obtained professional liability insurance. This is the insurance that will cover the risks that could occur as a result of the agent’s activity. It will also cater for the damages that may incur in case of terminating the agent’s activity. The association will check the compliancy of the professional liability insurance with the regulations before issuing the license to the agent.The applicant can opt for a different way rather than the professional insurance liability.
Study the market
It’s crucial that you have a good knowledge of the football market, including what the average transfer fees and wages are, as well as what bonuses different players take home. You need to understand how to position a player, what salary they can command, as well as the needs of clubs and how to identify whether your client is right for them.
Legal knowledge
One of the main tasks of a football agent is to look over legal contracts, so it’s essential you understand contract law. You don’t necessarily need to be a trained solicitor, although it could help, but you need to know what you’re looking at when a contract is presented to you, especially if you want to work for an agency.
Network
Being a successful football agent is all about what contacts you have. You need to attend matches and get to know club officials; you also need to meet new players when they’re starting out, as well as their parents and friends, so you can sign them as early as possible. You may even want to link up with members of the press who write for leading football and sports publications.