Soccer has evolved greatly in recent times, not only from a technological point of view with the implementation of VAR or goal-line technology, but also in terms of how it is structured from the formative stages.
Previously, players had a much more independent and less strict training regime. Most trained at home, following advice from their parents or relatives who had some knowledge of the sport.
Then, if the kid showed some talent, he would attend trials for teams in his town to start training with other kids his age, even if it wasn’t with professional methods or anything like that.
Today, soccer has grown so much that the big clubs are already betting on their players at an early age, recruiting them to their academies and youth teams to strengthen their squads from within.
And this is where the figure of the agent or representative in soccer comes in, a professional whose mission is to guide the player along the path that will best help them grow and bring them closer to success.
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The agent and their true role in managing a soccer player’s career.
Contrary to what has been believed for many years, agents are NOT professionals who are only responsible for finding signings and million-dollar contracts for the most promising players.
Although they are clearly involved in the player’s relationship with clubs and institutions, an agent or representative has much more influence on a player’s career than many people might think.
A good soccer agent is that helping hand, that advisor or ‘big brother’ who always has the right answers to all the events that may occur in the career of a developing soccer player.
- Legal advice: The representative is responsible for managing all the paperwork related to legal contracts, taxes, transfers, image rights, and reviewing every detail of a contract offered to the player.
The goal is for the player and their family to have full knowledge of all the agreements that their career is subject to, whether it be a transfer to a club, a sponsor, or a youth soccer academy.
Of course, agents rely on lawyers and experts in the legal field to take care of every aspect of contract negotiations, not just from a financial perspective. - Management and mediation with clubs: Beyond transfers, various situations arise in soccer that can be difficult for a player or their family to manage without the relevant experience.
In the event of internal conflicts and disagreements with the club, it is always best to seek the opinion of a representative who can help put everything into context and make the right decision, above any momentary emotion or anger.
In addition, an agent also always looks after the player’s image and their relationships with their club and other personalities in the world. A player must always maintain an impeccable reputation and have uncompromising professionalism in order to be more attractive to the big clubs.
Sometimes, due to inexperience and negligence, players and those around them can end up in a negative situation with a club and leave a significant stain on their career for the future, something that must be avoided at all costs.
- Personal support throughout their career: In addition to being a figure of authority and a guide, agents also play an important role in supporting players during the most difficult moments of their careers.
An agent can help the player to cope much better with a change of environment, a dip in performance, or simply a bad run of spending many games on the bench.
These types of issues are very common in the world of soccer and occur frequently in a player’s career. However, just one of these situations that is poorly managed can lead to a real catastrophe in the long run.
Therefore, the psychological and moral support that an agent can provide is also extremely important for young players, who need to gain experience and learn how their field of work operates in order to have a bright future in it. - Information channel for the family: The agent is also a channel for accurate and reliable information between clubs and the player’s entourage.
Sometimes, academies and institutions may offer unclear agreements or intend to lure the player with conditions that are not in their best interest, hiding clauses in contracts and using other types of ‘tricks’.
A good agent is already aware of all these ‘tricks’ and will help the player avoid these malicious practices, always telling him and his family the truth. - Negotiations and transfers: This is the agent’s best-known role. They must represent the player in dealings with clubs to set out conditions in negotiations and defend the player’s sporting and financial interests.
The agent is responsible for talking to the sporting directors and representatives of the clubs interested in the player’s services. In addition, they also have the task of analyzing all the proposals and choosing the project that best suits their client, both in terms of their current situation and what it may represent for their future.
At what age do you need to hire a soccer agent?
There is no set age for hiring a soccer agent, but there are certain indicators that mark the right time to seek advice.
First of all, FIFA has recently imposed stricter regulations on the transfer and signing of underage players, which means that the role of an agent is not essential at a very young age.
In fact, during the youth categories up to cadet/junior level, approximately up to the age of 15, it is sufficient for the player’s training to be accompanied only by their parents and the staff of the academy to which they belong.
In these early years, the player should focus primarily on developing their game in a pleasant environment, without too much pressure or measures that prevent them from enjoying themselves as the child they still are.
The age of 16 is a good time to look for an agent.
However, from the age of 16 onwards, the doors to the professional world begin to open for the player. Therefore, it may be advisable to have an advisor to help the family review contracts and understand how these agreements work.
Especially if the player is particularly talented, it is advisable to have a representative who can help explain each clause of the agreements offered.
Some young people and their families often make missteps when faced with the possibility of signing with a club and beginning to receive financial compensation for their talent.
However, many end up stunting their career development by betting on clubs that do not support them enough or that do not have the proper preparation to guide their players on a path of evolution and progress.
An agent helps you find the best opportunities.
This is where the agent, with their experience and contacts in the industry, will take charge of finding the best projects for the player, laying out the conditions of each one and advising the parents on the best decision to make.
Although there may be tempting offers from a financial point of view, what is really important at this age is that the player continues to get playing time on the field in order to continue their development.
Furthermore, it is important to remember that before the age of 18, professional contracts cannot be signed and high salaries cannot be negotiated. Therefore, it is best to handle these situations with a light touch and know how to distinguish a promising agreement from false promises, something in which agents are experts.
The club in question must offer a structured plan for the player’s growth, including sports training appropriate to their current situation, making them feel like an important part of the team and giving them the necessary leeway to adapt to their new roles.
18 years old: Time to sign and manage professional contracts.
Now that the player has reached the age of majority, the agent’s role becomes fully relevant and they can finally begin to perform all their duties.
Before signing a professional contract, it is best for the player to seek advice from a representative. In these cases, beyond the good intentions of the parents, an experienced figure ends up having greater weight due to the importance of the decision.
The deadline for contacting an agent is when the player receives their first professional contract offer. Being at a high level and close to the professional stage, there is no room for missteps; the player’s career must be viewed as a business to be managed as if it were a financial asset.
Of course, the most important thing is what happens on the field and the player’s performance, but having a good agent off the field can also be a differentiating factor in securing that coveted contract that will propel a soccer player’s career to success.
Guide to choosing the right soccer agent for your child.
Beyond all the functions an agent may have, one non-negotiable trait they must possess is honesty. An agent or representation agency must always be clear with their clients. At the end of the day, the agent is in charge of the player’s career and holds in their hands the dream of someone who dreams of becoming a professional soccer player and remaining in the elite for many years.
With this as an absolute priority, here is a practical guide to filtering candidates so that you can choose the best possible agent for your child.
- Certifications: FIFA has professionalized and structured the role of agents, granting certificates to all those who are prepared to perform this function in the sport. Before hiring an agent, you must ensure that they have a FIFA license and fulfill all their duties.
- Network of contacts: Another important factor to consider is the agent’s contacts and visibility in the soccer world. It is important that the agent has real access to academies and professional clubs. In addition, their word should carry some weight and respect in the industry.
Before signing with a representative, ask for evidence that demonstrates how they work, the clubs they have worked with previously, and the current status of players who have received their advice in the past. - Educational focus: Some agents are only concerned with the athletic development of young players. It is important to remember that, before becoming a player, young people also deserve the opportunity to continue their studies and, if possible, pursue a professional career.
That is why at Ertheo we focus fully on the educational development of young people, guiding them in their evolution on and off the field, without neglecting their academic performance.
Red flags to avoid at all costs.
❌ Unrealistic promises: In the world of soccer, if something seems too good to be true, in the vast majority of cases, it ends up being a lie.
If an agent promises you that in a few months your child will be playing for Real Madrid or Manchester City, they are most likely just trying to manipulate you with high expectations and situations that are very difficult to achieve under normal conditions.
A good agent always chooses to take the player’s career step by step, without raising extreme expectations or hopes that could later lead to serious disappointment.
❌ Exerts pressure and stress: Beyond the fact that soccer is a business, if the agent begins to exert excessive pressure on the player, they are not the most reliable option.
What happens on the field is not in the agent’s hands, and putting even more pressure on a young player in training can have a negative impact on their career.
The agent’s role is quite the opposite. They should take care of everything that happens off the field, making it easier for the player to trust their abilities and continue to perform at their best.
And if things are not going very well, they should only act as a support and advisor, providing valuable knowledge and lessons that can motivate the player, not bring them down further.
❌ Bad reputation/public image: From the outset, an agent becomes the player’s link to clubs. It is essential that the agent is a respected and credible figure in soccer.
Avoid dealing with representatives who have shady backgrounds or people whose names generate mistrust when heard.
Don’t want an agent yet? Other reliable alternatives.
If you are still undecided about hiring an agent for your child, there are other alternatives that can help you guide their sporting career on the right path.
Remember that, although parents should always be involved in decision-making, it is also important to learn to delegate certain matters and trust professionals who can advise you, whether they are representatives, an agency, or a private academy.
High-Performance Academies.
High-performance academies are private institutions that focus on player development. Each academy has its own training method, guidelines, and philosophies to follow.
In addition, they are staffed by personnel specialized in the development of soccer players, some with professional experience in leagues around the world.
These academies also take care of the academic performance of the children, with educational plans for them to complete their studies at the academy or acting as a bridge with their school so that they can finish their subjects remotely.
For example, Ertheo offers a High Performance Academy in Barcelona, Spain, which enjoys a great reputation for its work philosophy and coaches.
At this academy, coaches instill in players that daily effort is much more important than talent. This means that the boys are trained in an environment of hard work and discipline, without taking their future success for granted simply because they have the ability to play.
- Comprehensive training for players: Academies ensure the soccer and academic development of players.
- Prestigious institutions: The most prestigious academies have proven training methods, some of which have been approved by leading soccer coaches.
Soccer camps and tryouts.
Soccer camps are a gateway to academies and are ideal for players to familiarize themselves with how a soccer school works before signing up for one.
These camps or tryouts are tests that can be taken in the summer or at other times of the year so that kids can spend their vacations competing and enjoying their favorite sport.
There are high-performance camps, such as this high-performance camp in the UK, which only accept high-level players and have higher physical demands. In addition, it is led by coaches with experience in the Premier League and Championship.
On the other hand, there are also multi-adventure or recreational camps for kids who are just getting interested in soccer or just want to have fun while playing and doing other complementary activities.
- Gateway to soccer academies and the general structure of the sport.
- High-performance (high level), recreational, or multi-adventure programs.
- They last for two weeks or a month.
- Excellent for trying out the academies before signing your child up for the long term.
Scholarships in the USA.
Scholarships in the USA are another good way for a soccer player to receive proper sports training and an excellent academic education in the United States.
Of course, to be eligible for a scholarship in the US, certain requirements must be met, starting with proficiency in English and other important issues for American high schools and universities.
However, some academies and camps take care of preparing the kids with everything they need for the scholarship application period.
- Excellent academic training at an American institution.
- Enter the US sports division system, which has been very well structured for many years, all the way up to university.
- Academies with modern technologies and a less competitive environment.
Family support: The perfect formula for success.
With all these options on the table, what is clear is that every young soccer player needs the support of their family to have a successful sports career.
In addition, the family should seek advice from agents, representatives, or academies when it comes time to make important decisions.
With these two points as a basis, developing your child’s soccer career will be much easier to manage and, with a little talent and luck, very successful!
