How to Choose the Right Football Agent for Your Career
Choosing the wrong football agent can end your career before it even begins, but how do you know who to trust?
In this blog, I’ll share some crucial tips that every player—whether you're a pro, semi-pro, or amateur—should know when looking for an agent.
Each of these categories of players faces different challenges, and the key to finding the right agent lies in understanding and avoiding these pitfalls.
Why Listen to Me?
My name is Alan Deriard, a full-time football agent and the co-founder of Elite Football, Australia's largest football agency.
We’ve worked with over 25 professional clubs across Europe, the UAE, and South America and have helped hundreds of players with player representation.
If you’re looking for an agency, feel free to check out the link at the bottom for a consultation with one of my support agents.
The Three Categories of Players
Pro Players
Semi-Pro Players
Amateur Players
These three categories come with different obstacles when finding the right agent. Let’s dive into each.
Pro Players: Easier but Not Always Straightforward
If you're a professional player, your main goal when selecting an agent is to find one who can connect you with the right club. As a pro, this process is more straightforward because agencies see you as a safer bet. You’re already playing at a high level, likely in Division 1 or 2, and agencies know they can earn their commission once they help you land a deal.
The key here is to make sure the agent you choose has the right contacts at the clubs you're interested in. Older professional players—those in their late 20s or early 30s—may face more difficulty getting signed at top-tier clubs, but there are agencies specializing in regions like the UAE or Asia, where players can still earn solid salaries of $80,000 to $150,000 a year.
Takeaway for Pro Players: Don’t just settle for any agent who says they can help. Look for agencies with the right contacts and experience in the markets you’re targeting. This is especially crucial for older players looking for contracts in specific regions.
Semi-Pro Players: Beware of Dodgy Agents
If you're a semi-pro player, finding the right agent becomes trickier. Semi-pros often play at the NPL level or in lower European leagues, and the pathway to a professional contract is full of obstacles. Unfortunately, this is where dodgy agents thrive. Here are the common red flags:
1. Hefty Agent Fees
Some agents working with semi-pro players take advantage of the fact that you're not yet a sure thing. Instead of charging the standard 1%-10% of your future wage, these agents may ask for 50% or more of your contract or transfer fees. For instance, if you sign a contract worth €30,000, you might owe the agent €15,000, making it impossible to survive financially while playing.
Tip: Avoid signing any contract where the agent takes an unreasonable percentage. If someone asks for 50% or more, they're not looking out for your best interests.
2. Brand Cuts
Some agents will ask you to sign away a percentage of your brand or likeness rights for extended periods (e.g., 5 years). This can be disastrous if you eventually make it big and land sponsorship deals, as the agent would then claim a significant portion of those earnings.
While this might not seem like a big deal when you're starting out with no sponsors, it can become a huge issue if you succeed later.
Tip: Be very careful about signing over your brand rights, especially for long periods. Make sure you fully understand the terms before agreeing.
Amateur Players: The Most Vulnerable
If you're an amateur player, you're in the riskiest category. Agents and organizations know you're eager to break into the industry, and many will try to exploit that enthusiasm. Here are the key traps to avoid:
1. Tours, Tournaments, and Experiences
One of the biggest scams aimed at amateur players is the promise of exposure through tours or international tournaments. Many people running these tours aren’t even working directly with the clubs—they’re just middlemen profiting from getting you to sign up.
They might charge you thousands of dollars for a few games, but these opportunities rarely lead to professional contracts.
Tip: Be wary of agents or organisations that sell tours or “experiences” as a way to get signed. The odds of landing a contract from a few games are extremely low.
2. Fake Agents
Some agents, especially those with large social media followings, use their platforms to lure players into signing bad deals.
They might claim to have the right connections and promise to help you land a contract, but instead, they overcharge for services like trial arrangements, accommodation, and meals.
In some cases, they cram multiple players into one room and charge exorbitant fees for short-term trials, which rarely lead to anything substantial.
Tip: Avoid any agent who asks for large upfront fees for trials or other services. Reputable agents should only take a commission once they secure a deal for you.
Be Smart and Stay Informed
Navigating the football industry can be tricky, especially when you’re trying to go pro. Whether you're a pro, semi-pro, or amateur player, the key to finding the right agent is to stay informed, avoid the common pitfalls, and never rush into signing anything without fully understanding the terms.
If you found this blog helpful, feel free to share it with a friend or check out the consultation link below to get in touch with Elite Football.
We’re here to help you avoid these mistakes and guide you on your journey to a professional career.
Book your FREE consultation here 👉: https://www.elitefootball.com.au/booking-calendar/free-consultation?referral=service_list_widget
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