To be a Football Agent and Qualification

                          To win as a Footballer takes great skills, hard work and determination and also doesn’t hurt to have an excellent Agent…Football Agents handle all aspects of a player’s career, from helping decide which club they choose to play for, to ensuring they’re being paid enough for their service.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.

Typical duties for a Football Agent may include:

• Managing transfers on behalf of their players 
• Negotiating contract renewals 
• Handling marketing and media enquiries, including endorsements and sponsorship opportunities 
• Supporting players with personal issues, and handling any grievances they have with the club 
• Completing all necessary paperwork 
• Scouting potential clients 
• Babysitting (as and when required) 

A football or sports agent negotiates employment contracts for the athletes they represent. As a agent, you would talk with team owners, managers and coaches to find your client the best deal. You might also handle their public relations matters and their finances, such as investments and taxes. To do this job you will need to know about finances and business management and have a passionate understanding of sports. If you have excellent communication and negotiation skills and you enjoy following trends in sports, then this role could be for you. There are no set entry requirements to get into this work, but a lot sports agents are lawyers or have a background in contract law. It may also help to have a degree in business studies.

To get qualified:

Anyone can become an Agent. However, you will need to pass a written examination and be registered with the FA to get started.

Work activities:

Sports agent might juggle several duties at once, ranging from marketing your client’s abilities to managing their social media pages and websites. As a guideline, you will typically:

1) Scout for new and talented athletes and players at sports matches and events.
2) Manage your client’s career in terms of marketing and endorsement activities
3) Represent your client if there is a dispute between them and the organization that             employs them.
4) Act as a spokesperson for your client when they want to talk to the media.
5) Be on the lookout for better offers to match your client’s salary and long term career aims.
6) Handle contract and salary packages.
7) Support your clients during times of personal difficulty, loss of form or when they are         feeling under pressure.
8) Willingness to work flexibility and be available all times.
9) Good skill in maths and strong business skills.
10) Understanding of marketing and promotion technique.

A lot of your work will involve contract negotiation and making sure that contracts meet legal guidelines and are presented to clubs and organizations in the correct format. Some agents will use their own solicitor to carry out the legal contract work for them. You might work for a sports agency, a law firm that specializes in sporting contracts or you may be freelance. Some sports agents are employed by football lubs to recruit players on their behalf.

Working hours and conditions:
The agent should maintain his schedule in his business. An agent, you might work for a large company or work for yourself. You need to be highly motivated and willing to work long hours. You may need to work seven days a week during busy periods. For example transfer deadline day in the case of football. Some of the work might take place in offices and boardrooms when working on deals. You will also need to attend many of the matches or sports events that your clients compete in. to be successful, you will usually need to be available at short notice to give advice to clients and to represent them to the media. This job can involve a lot of travel and long hours, so you will need a driving licence for most jobs.

Income:
The agent income will depend on whether you work for an employer or for yourself, your experience and your reputation. And it will also depend on the level of athlete you represent. If you are employed by a sports agency, you may be paid a fixed salary and also between 4% and 10% of the athlete’s playing contract. You may also take between 10% and 30% of the athlete’s endorsement or advertising contract.

Entry Requirements:

No set of entry requirements to be a football or sports agent. The agents should have: work experience with a sports agency- contact agency to see if there are voluntary placements or internships available. Contacts within sports – you can build up your contacts by watching games and matches and getting to know club officials and players their parents and friends. Legal knowledge – a lot of your work will involve looking over legal contracts, so you’ll need a good understanding of contact law, and it may help if you are a trained solicitor. Knowledge in business- this is very important to the role, so you may also find it useful to study for a degree or PG course in international sports management or business management. You can find information on degree and postgraduate courses relating to sports management and business studies through UCAS.

Training and development:
Depending on the sports there may be certain licensing or registration requirements that agents have to meet, this was set by the governing body for that sports. You want to learn about your game or sport and how transfers, loans and other contracts are made. You need to be more active during transfer window.