Intermediary Agents in Soccer

We hear a lot about intermediary agents in soccer and other sports. What do they do? Keep reading to learn more about their work.

There’s no doubt that the world of soccer today is full of celebrities, both on and off the field. On the other hand, there are very important jobs that keep soccer successful but that many people don’t know about, such as intermediary agents.

One of the most important roles in soccer is the intermediary agent, who some people just refer to as “agents.” Here, we’ll tell you all about them, and what their jobs consist of.

In general, when someone mentions them, you might immediately think of the economic exploitation of the activity, or exploiting players. After many scandals, agents have a bad reputation.

However, it’s not fair to blame everyone for the bad actions of a few of them. In addition, intermediary agents do more than just find opportunities for sports entities or companies. Usually, they help athletes achieve success and a better quality of life with their work.

Keeping this in mind, we’ll explain all about what intermediary agents do. First, we’ll clarify who they are, and how they function with the new rules of soccer.

What are intermediary agents and what do they do?

Intermediary agents in soccer coordinate transfers between different clubs. In other words, they help negotiate between sports entities and athletes.

Generally, their job is to identify and negotiate growth and future opportunities for professional athletes. In fact, there are intermediary agents in almost all sports.

However, in soccer, they’re becoming even more important. To get an idea, according to FIFA data, there are more than 5,200 professional agents in soccer. On the other hand, there are just around 300 in baseball.

Among other duties, this position involves negotiating a player’s contract within a club. Likewise, they also deal with possible sponsorship agreements and using images of athletes in advertising with different companies and brands.

Are there specific regulations for agents?

The main international sports federations and institutions have some regulations, and they’re working on adding more. Their goal is to approve and regulate how agents work.

The MLB (Major League Baseball) and FIFA (International Soccer Association) are pioneers for regulations. Here, they already have norms for ethical behaviors. They’re there to legally guide intermediary agents in the sports field.

Regarding FIFA regulations, here is its definition of an intermediary agent:

However, we must emphasize that these rules don’t regulate access to this activity. On the other hand, it helps guarantee legal and ethical practices. In addition, it states that an agent’s employment relationship must happen through a contract. This is true both for business with athletes or a sports entity or association.

How to become an intermediary agent in soccer

To work as an intermediary agent, you don’t currently have to have a specific title. However, it’s also true that the most successful agents constantly invest in training and knowledge about sports, law, and administration.

In addition, there are more and more courses becoming available to be an agent. These programs focus on learning these essential skills. It’s a competitive job, just as competitive as the sport itself.