Whether you are already at a professional football club, have recently been released, are playing semi-professionally with a desire to rise to the top or are an aspiring coach or manager, signing up with a football agency will be a decision you will have to consider at some stage.
Having an agent can sometimes be thought of as a daunting prospect, with the media portrayal of agents not always painted in the best light. True, there are good and bad agents just as there are good and bad lawyers, plumbers or any profession, and finding a good one can be a challenge. But like in many different industries from sports to entertainment - singers, movie stars, artists - working with an agency is something many sports players and athletes need to do.
But with thousands of football agents out there - or football intermediaries as they are often known - how do you know the best one to choose? What should you even look for? And how do you know the right time to look into working with one?
At Future Global Sports we have put together a list of three things to consider before signing with a football agent or agency. Consider the following and we hope you find our tips useful…
Getting a football agent - 4 key tips
1, Do you have a desire to pursue a career in football?
Desire is essential. Do you feel like you are determined enough to make the sacrifices needed to succeed in the tough world of professional sport?
Do you have the drive and hunger to make it regardless of the setbacks and inevitable lows that can come with the highs?
Are you committed to staying disciplined on determining factors in success, such as your diet, nutrition, fitness and avoiding bad habits such as late nights out and takeaways?
If the answer is yes to all three questions then it could be the right decision for you to look for an agent or agency that can help you chase your dream.
Making it as a professional footballer is not for the faint hearted - there is intense competition week in week out with hundreds if not thousands of players wanting to take what are limited places in the professional game. The rewards are amazing but the competition is fierce.
You should look deep within yourself and ask ‘is a career in football what I really want and am I ready to make the sacrifices required to get there?’ before even starting.
2, Are you performing above the level at which you are currently playing?
Are you the best player in your team or region? Are you scoring goals for fun or finding games at your current level almost easy? Do you feel like you have more to offer or are ready to push to a higher level? Do you want to embrace a bigger challenge?
What would your manager or coaches say about you - would it be positive feedback? Are you professional on a day to day basis? Do you turn up on time? Are you coachable and willing to learn and accept feedback? If you answer yes to most or all of these then you might want to engage the services of a football agent to help you take further steps.
The job of a football agent or agency is to provide you with the relevant contacts and network to alert other clubs, managers and heads of recruitment about your talents and help you find opportunities and negotiate contracts with football clubs. By signing with a football agency you tap into their network and have access to their contacts through working together with them.
A good football agent can help you connect to bigger clubs and better opportunities in your pursuit of a fulfilling football career. They also often work commercially for you on brand deals if you are a player of high value.
Remember - joining an agency does not guarantee you will have a career - you still need to put in a lot of work on a daily basis and live the right lifestyle on and off the pitch - including nutrition, extra training and good habits.
But if you are consistently performing above your current level and want to consider your options a football agent is a good idea to help you evaluate your ability, your potential and help you on your journey.
3, Do you have the best possible network of support around you with your football?
You may have supportive parents and an amazing coach, or be at a club where you are comfortable. But remember - a football club’s first priority is the club itself. They have their own best interests at heart before any player.
Ultimately the best way to get that extra bit of assistance is to speak to and work with a professional involved in football on a day-to-day basis - and that means hiring the services of a football agent or agency to help you.
A good agent is someone you can trust, someone who is honest and open and will not spin you lies about your ability and potential. The best football agents will sometimes have to be brutally honest with you. You should seek someone who you can build a strong relationship with, who you can ask questions and know you will be given open and honest advice.
A good football agent should challenge you, push you to your maximum level, watch your games and meet or speak with you often to discuss your progress. He, she or they should be a skilled negotiator, and well connected. They should have a realistic plan in place for your career, setting achievable targets to help you get there.
Yes, football is a business and there is a commercial element to getting an agent. But you should want to work with people who are transparent and have your back whether things are going well or not so well.
Football has plenty of ups and downs - you don’t want an agency that will abandon you at the first sign of problems.
4, Do I understand football contracts and employment regulations?
Release clauses, bonuses, compensation agreements, FIFA protocols, transfer registration periods - football contracts can be a complex business with many things to consider.
How do you know if you are being paid a fair wage compared to your peers? How do you go about maximising your income? Are there perks that can be added to your contract that you perhaps aren't aware of or haven’t thought about?
Working with experienced professionals who operate day-to-day in football and know the value of contracts, earnings, the landscape of the transfer market, both domestically and internationally, and understand the finer details and small print of football contracts and contract negotiations can help you ensure you get the best deal possible.
At Future Global Sports we are dedicated professionals with decades worth of experience in the football industry and a firm understanding of the football transfer market, contracts and how negotiations work. We are a football agency you can rely on to be honest and transparent, and do our upmost to support you both in hard times and good times.
Contact us today via: contact@futureglobalsports.com if you would like to learn more about getting a football agent or to arrange an informal discussion.