Assessing your capabilities.
It is clear that children who play football all dream of playing big-time football. Play in Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester, or at worst in our clubs Dynamo, Shakhtar, etc. But when should you think seriously about your dream? Well, of course, in the last year of classes at a children's sports school. Why? Because this year will determine your condition, the level of a football player.
What you guys and your parents definitely need to know. First of all, remember it doesn’t really matter what school you play football at. Yes, it’s good if you are at a Dynamo or Shakhtar school or sports boarding school. Of course, the conditions for classes there are much better than in schools in small towns. But, believe me, this is not so important. It is important that you have those football skills, the ability that would allow you to move on. There are a lot of examples where guys from small towns, unknown teams, ended up in professional football.
Remember one more important postulate. If you don’t play in your children’s team in the first team, this is also not a reason to hang up your boots and forget about your dream.
So, how do you assess your capabilities? First, make this assessment yourself first. For example, rate your football capabilities using a five-point system:
Technical equipment,
Physical state
Tactical equipment,
Game during selection, single combat,
Moral condition.
Write down for yourself on a piece of paper what you do best. What's the trick to your game? For example, someone plays well in tackling, is physically strong, someone has good speed and dribbling. Someone has a strong blow from any position, etc.
Below I will write to you exactly what qualities it is advisable to have for each position and role in order to get into the teams of masters:
And the main thing for everyone is to have a strong character. Without character, there is no chance of becoming a footballer. The ability to endure, to play until the end, I can’t get through it.
Goalkeeper– first of all, height, preferably not lower than 185 cm. Good technical equipment. Strong legs, without them there will be no good reaction, even if there is one, and jumping ability. Don't be a coward and be morally strong. Of course, play on the exits, and not just on the goal line.
Fullback- First of all, have good speed. Rarely is a full-back slow - this is rather the exception to the rule, if there are such, and they are. Be tough in martial arts, strong physically. It's not bad to play with your head. Have high jumping ability. Well, if there is no speed, then at least have good sharpness. It is desirable to play simply and reliably.
Central defender– tall height, this is very important. Don’t believe that if you are 180cm tall and play as a central defender in a children’s school and don’t play badly, you will get into the team of masters. The chances are slim, believe me. Better change your role. Heading is a must. Speed is very desirable, but there were football players who didn’t run, but then you need to have a head like his. Play smart tactically. And one more thing, the ability to make the first pass. Be physically strong.
Wide midfielder– you must have good speed. It would be great if you had good technique and especially dribbling. Have good passing. Many people think that they know how to serve, but they really don’t. Very few people know how to do this; this should be done separately from general training. Have great endurance. The midfielder has to play both in defense and in attack. It would also be very good if you played with both feet equally - this is a positive aspect when choosing a coach. Well, and the ability to shoot on goal. The ability to play in tackling, without this, a wing midfielder is now an empty place.
Defensive midfielder- First of all, sharpness, very good physical condition. Play with your head when tackling, be tenacious and not yielding.
Attacking midfielder– be very technical, dribbling, have a good understanding of the game, and tactically competent. Have a good pass, both low and high. Have a blow. It is advisable to at least be very sharp.
Attack– they come in different types, but the main thing is to have a scoring instinct, have a good kick and preferably both feet. Have dribbling ability, be able to create chances for yourself, take over the game. Good starting and distance speed. The ability to open up well, to offer yourself.
Here I have listed the main characteristics for each role. Look for these qualities in yourself, work on the missing qualities and everything will be fine.
What else would you like to do? It’s difficult for you to evaluate yourself objectively, so it’s best to invite someone, an outside specialist. Let him evaluate you, look at your game and what you can do in training. Because it's not always the same. In training you can be one thing, but in the game you can be completely different.
Targeted preparation.
And so, you assessed your capabilities, abilities, qualities. Now we need to start preparing. How many times do coaches scold you? Constantly. But, you listen, and most of them fall on deaf ears. Yes, no, we have to take it and work. Correct your shortcomings and, as a rule, this must be done in addition to general training.
The most important aspect in this focus is your psychological approach. Believe me, if you are passionate about something more than football, your aspiration is worthless. This does not mean that you should not be interested in anything else, not do anything, not relax and go out with friends. You just have to do it all on time. But you have to play football, well, not fanatically, but enough, just responsibly. I saw a lot of talented guys. They could play at a very good level. But they did not have a core of responsibility or determination. All this happened, but only in words, but in deeds...
You've probably heard the phrase “You need to love not yourself in football, but football in yourself.”
Believe me, this is pure truth.
I really want to say a few words to my parents. Don't put pressure on your children. Sometimes it seems to me that parents want to play football more than their children. There is no need to put pressure, there should be control, but not as total as it happens. And also, if you haven’t played professionally yourself, don’t teach them to play. Sometimes I listen to parents’ tips on how their child should have played in this or that moment, and my heart bleeds. Well, just all football specialists. They have coaches for this. Some terrorize their guys so much that they simply stop playing, they give up, right on the field. We need your moral support. The child should know that you approve of his desire to play professional football and believe in him.
Search for a football agent.
It's no secret that nowadays there are a large number of football agents. Do you need them?
How can a young football player get an audition for one or another team of masters? His childhood coach may recommend him. But honestly, this happens so rarely. It can be seen by selectors of masters teams at various tournaments and cups. But again. I will say from what actually exists, we have very few selectors in the masters teams, and many teams simply do not have them. This is a huge disadvantage of our football. So, it’s better not to rely on these comrades.
There is an option, friends of friends, etc. But, you see, not many people have this option, or rather, many simply don’t have it. Therefore, it is best to find a football agent for your child. Well, we have just a huge number of agents. Go to the search engine and open the list. Then make inquiries, find out the characteristics of this person and make a choice. There is no point in waiting for an agent to come to you, unless your child is a player of the Ukrainian youth team.
The main features of a good one are professionalism, so that he really is a football specialist, and decency. Unfortunately, not all football agents have these qualities. There are those who, if they understand that they cannot get money for your child right away, then they will not really deal with it, or they simply promise a lot, sign an agency contract, and then do not answer calls, there were also such. You need to carefully think about which team is best to go to for a tryout. Well, not all teams are suitable for this. The agent must know and take into account all these circumstances. Where, what coach, what kind of players he likes. What prospects does the guy have in this team, take into account his future transfer amount, etc. Believe me, getting into the team is only half the battle; you also need to sign a competent contract. There are many examples when young guys signed employment contracts for good salaries, and two years later, when these teams no longer needed them, they simply could not get a job anywhere. Because their level of play does not correspond to their transfer amount. And by the way, this is not that the football player is bad, he is simply not yet ripe for another level. We must understand that every young football player reaches a high level individually. Some very early, some a little later. Therefore, choosing an agent is a very responsible and serious step.
Team selection.
Choosing a future team where you will have to go for a tryout is a very important step. For graduates of sports schools, the best way to continue improving their skills is, of course, the double team of the Major League. Why? Because this is the fastest and most realistic chance to immediately play in the Major League, bypassing the lower football divisions. Getting into the Major League from first or second division teams is very, very difficult. If you didn’t get into any doubles, then it’s best to start with a second division team. Personally, I think that at the age of 17 - 18 there is nothing to do in a first division team, unless of course you are so talented, or there is simply a coach who will trust you and believe in you. Believe me, this happens very rarely. As a rule, coaches of first league teams are very reluctant to trust young footballers to play in the lineup or often substitute. Twenty-three years old is still a young age for them. Then your age, for them, is just childish. And you understand, the most important thing at your age is to play. You can train as much as you like, it won’t be of much use if you don’t play. That is precisely why the double and the second league are preferable to the first league. If you stand out in your position in the reserves or in the second league, you will have a real chance to move to a team in the first division, where you will not sit on the bank or not get into the squad, but play.
Getting into a team does not mean playing well.
Many young football players, when they get into the master team, the reserve team or the second league, consider that the job is done. For some reason, most people begin to have love stories, whirlwind romances. And in my head, there is only love and sex. I'm not against all this, that's understandable. But, often, for some reason, for the majority, all these relationships really interfere. My opinion is that you should start a serious relationship at twenty or a little later. When will there be more or less some clarity with your football career? Money appears and immediately many begin to play tricks. They often go to nightclubs, drink, etc. I do not recommend doing this in large quantities. In my opinion, the second league or double is not football yet. This is just the beginning of the journey. Please understand, football is a very delicate thing. There is a saying: “It’s not enough to know how to play football, you need to find your coach and your team.”
You can play for the reserve team all season in the first team, but you won’t be able to make it to the first team. But it may even happen that you won’t get into the second league. There can be a lot of reasons why you played for the reserve team. And to play in the second league, you need to really play. Unfortunately, our doubles now are just some kind of football kindergarten. Both the level of the team and the nature of the game are very different from the level of the game and precisely the character, from the second league.
There is another important aspect why many guys quickly end up playing professional football. Many people somehow get the feeling that they are completely fine, but they are being stifled and not objectively assessed. Such an element of internal star fever. Such thoughts, one hundred percent, lead to sad consequences. As a rule, such football players end up playing professional football as soon as they start. I would not talk about this if there were not numerous examples of such cases. I don’t want to name the names of these, as I call them, semi-football players. I sincerely feel sorry for them, but they only have themselves to blame for not playing anymore. Therefore, I ask you, do not make mistakes. Be realistic about yourself, evaluate your game critically. There are always flaws in the game.
Conclusion:
If you take what I have written here seriously, I assure you, you will achieve results and become a professional football player. What is important is an objective assessment, a desire, a fanatical desire to work on the problematic aspects of your game and have a real masculine character.
Golovin spoke with the person who is handling the cases of Smolnikov and Alenichev.
Alexander Manyakov is the head of Follow Me Sports Agency. His agency ranks first in Russia in terms of the number of clients among football players - 98 players from 57 clubs. He opened the company in 2005 and over 13 years accumulated a base of players from eight national teams.
Alexander Golovin met with Manyakov to understand how the agency business actually works.
What did Manyakov do before he became an agent?
– I graduated from the Lokomotiv football school in 1993. After that, he played in the youth team of Spartak, there was such a team under the reserve team. In it I crossed paths with people who later became famous - Gunko, Meleshin, Dzhubanov. I still communicate with them, as well as with Titov. But he was not in the youth team - he was immediately transferred from the academy to the reserve team because he looked cooler than everyone else. When I was still running for Lokomotiv, they personally put me against Yegor, although there was no chance - I carried him decently.
– Who else stood out as a child?
– Shevchenko remembered. I saw him in the final part of the USSR Championship in 1991. “Spartak”, “Lokomotiv”, “Dynamo” Kyiv got there. I remember that we were placed in a boarding school for the mentally retarded in Stupino. We lived in one wing, Spartak in the other.
– What about the patients?
“They were removed from the boarding school.” And then Lokomotiv and I went against Kyiv in the group stage. We lost 1:4, Sheva scored two. He really caught my eye. He wasn’t ahead of everyone else in terms of physical development, but he looked great. By the way, Shovkovsky seemed to be standing at the goal then, and Roma Sharonov and Evseev were playing for us. Vadik is actually my godfather. I am the godfather of his daughter Polina, he is the godfather of my eldest Dasha. And Vadik’s wife Tatyana is the godmother of Anya’s middle daughter.
– Did Evseev behave as impudently as he does now?
“I wasn’t a bully—he was such a quiet C student.” He was naughty sometimes. Once we were going to a training camp near Tula - an entire train car was allocated for the team. The train stopped at the stations, but our doors did not open. And as we set off, there was immediately a buzz on the platform, people were screaming... I asked: “Why are you laughing?” - "Nothing". And again. The coach then came up: “Good.” It turned out that they were getting tomatoes and eggs that their mothers had given them on the road. The train started moving - they threw them at passers-by.
– After school, could you get into a professional team?
– I was there – in Mytishchi. I just graduated from Lokomotiv school and ended up at Torpedo MKB. It was among the leaders of the third league. I was considered the youngest, local, so they wanted to keep me. But he was stupid. At first I was just training, they didn’t offer me a contract. Ambition played a role. I thought I was fine and went to the Lokomotiv reserve team. I ran around for a week and they said, “Thank you, no need.” I didn’t go back to Mytishchi – my conscience wouldn’t allow it. I went without a team and studied at the pedagogical institute with Spartak players - Gunko, Dzhubanov. They suggested: “Come to us.” The coach, Anatoly Fedoseevich Korolev, was warned. He is a very cool specialist, he trained a lot of young people, and he remembered me from playing for Loko.
Maniakov with Dmitry Gunko
I arrive at the playpen - squares. My head was spinning and I couldn’t leave the square. The first six months were very difficult. We performed at the KFC, many international tournaments, but they didn’t take me - I didn’t make it into the squad. I played football poorly, it wasn’t easy. Plus from the outskirts of Mytishchi, street, late 90s. This also derailed my career a little.
- How?
“They almost went to jail for theft.”
– Was something really stolen?
- Certainly. But I don’t want to remember the details. In general, many from the yard went into crime. Half of them are already dead - drugs, murders. I don’t remember any high-profile incidents, but small disputes constantly occurred. We got into a fight with someone at a disco, we’ll meet tomorrow. They are gone, someone else has arrived and is bleating. Once he was in the car, they took him into the forest and pointed a gun at him. Didn't give it away. They gave me five for their perseverance and said: “Tell them that we are looking for them.”
- Did you get kicked out of Spartak for theft?
“Back then I was already a member of Roda.” “Spartak” sent me to such a Moscow team. It was sponsored by Oleg Sienko, until recently the director of Uralvagonzavod. He played for her. And I was away from my cell for a week because of that theft. When I came out, they told me: “Come on, without discrediting me.” I ran a little more and went to mini-football. He went against Eremenko. He was a greyhound on the field. But in the game against him and “Dina” my head was spinning. I also remember Grigory Ivanov - he himself played then. Emotional, although it quickly faded.
Spent three months in the mini. Even during the incident with the camera, the lawyer said an interesting thing: “You’re not a stupid guy. You understand that others need to earn money. Better study - your head is clear, your speech is normal, you position yourself correctly.” Roda coach Volodya Apachinsky said something similar. He owned a car business. He asked: “Why the hell are you getting into all this? You can also go into business.” It stuck with me. He confessed, took communion, and began going to church. And I realized that crime is not my thing. For him you need to have a certain character, way of thinking. Do not be afraid. And I am a doubter.
How Manyakov became an agent
– What happened after football?
- Comrade, Oleg Malezhik, he is also from Mytishchi, in 1997 he invited me to the second higher education: “There is a law faculty of Moscow State Law Academy. Let's go to?". I agreed, although I was still studying at the first institute.
Oleg started working in banks early. And when I graduated from the academy, I opened an investment company. She was involved in mediation in transactions with bills. Invited me. What is the point - there is, for example, the Moscow Railway and some kind of carrier. The road has no money to pay for transportation. So they write you a promissory note. At the same time, you inflate the cost of work. The work costs two million, you write five. When selling a bill to a third party, you give a discount - you give it back for just two. And people buy because they can then demand three million from the road. Or a comparable service.
– What exactly were you doing?
- I brought people together. You need a bill from the energy company, and I know who's selling it because I'm on the phone all the time, finding out information. In short, I acted as a mediator, and one of the parties paid me for it. The first transaction took place within two weeks. Although before this there was a choice - to go to the company or as a security guard in the parking lot that was opened next to the house. After all, I chose the center of Moscow.
This then spilled over into the petrochemical business. I still have it - I deal with solvents and paints and varnishes, and sell them. In 2004, for this work, I went to Dzerzhinsk for a year. The Polikom company still operates there, producing antifreeze and solvents. I met its owners. And their friend went to prison for eight years with confiscation of property. He left behind a 14-year-old son, a football player. They say: “Take him to Moscow - he’ll be lost here.” I took him, got him a job at Lokomotiv, he even got into the youth team. And I became friends with the guys there. Including Smolnikov.
- How? You are an adult, they are children.
- Yes, we were just talking. Just like there are parents who constantly accompany the team. It was interesting to me, I had a lot of time. He constantly hung around Lokomotiv, everyone knew. Including the coach of the 1988 national team Nikolai Smirnov. He introduced people from the legal department of the RFU and told how agents work. I received a license and signed contracts with the boys. The coaches said: “Come on, San. You're doing fine with your kids. You won’t quit.” And so it started to spin.
- Do not really understand. 16-year-old boys are playing at school, then a man comes up to them and asks them to sign a contract. Did Smolnikov immediately agree?
“I didn’t even ask any questions.” He knew me for six months and was a close friend. Like a little brother. I gave money, we ate in restaurants.
– Is he your first client?
– The first one is still the one whose dad was imprisoned. He didn’t become a footballer, now he lives in Krasnodar and works there as a lawyer. I brought my dad to live with me. And Igor is the first of those who reached this level. Although I didn’t get into Bilyaletdinov’s double team – I was sick almost the entire senior year. He was small, but then he began to grow. The muscles could not keep up with the growth of the bones. Because of this, injuries occurred. But Volchek took him to Torpedo. Igor came to the double for $300 a month.
– Did you make money from the transfer?
- Yes, what is it? Malezhik and I—he also received a license—received our first money for a foreigner. The Cameroonian Bertrand Ngapunu played in Rostov, but they asked him from there. He sat without a command. Someone advised us, said that the person was looking: “Can you help?” We started offering him to different clubs and managed to get him hired at Anzhi. Dmitry Galyamin paid five thousand dollars between them. This happened in August 2005. The license with Malezhik was received in April.
– Didn’t you pay taxes?
- Certainly. Moreover, for the next year and a half there was nothing at all. We have no connections, we signed up young people, there was no arrival. I remember how we met in the evening at the Format shopping center on Yaroslavka. Oleg says: “###, San, p####ts, z#####o” - “Now is the transfer window. If we don’t earn anything, we quit.” And they earned it. We were recommended a guy from St. Petersburg. His name was Yegor Kvach - he was simply talented. They sold him to Saturn and received 20 thousand dollars (in 2013, Kvach ended his professional career; that season he played two matches in FC St. Petersburg from the PFL - website).
And the first big money came thanks to Yuri Gazzaev. He said: “Bring me a foreigner to KAMAZ. In the summer of 2006, we organized the passage of four Balkans - Petrovich, Grubestic, Todorovic and Zeba. We received normal cabbage - I bought a Toyota RAV4 for it. And I realized that this could be done seriously.
– Your client’s transfer with the largest commission?
– Igor Smolnikov during the transition from Krasnodar to Zenit. And Emin Makhmudov from Saturn to Spartak.
– In both cases, the commission is more than 500 thousand euros?
Why agents are good
– When you entered the business, did experienced agents not press you?
- At a minimum. There was already a huge piece of the football pie. He was bitten not like now - by a hundred agents, but by several people - Oleg Artemov, Pavel Andreev, Alexey Safonov, Arsen Minasov, Oleg Eremin. Those guys who received licenses before us. They had enough people who played in the Premier League. And here we are - without any special connections. We decided that it was difficult to compete with monsters and began to sign promising and young players. No one paid attention to them then. And we have established relationships with the coaches of youth teams. Graduated in 1988 - we knew all the boys by heart until 1992.
– Let’s take the senior year of any top Moscow academy – are all the players from it now under contracts with agents?
- Yes. Maybe not on contracts, but everyone has agents. Our youngest client was born in 2003. In general, children begin to be monitored at the age of 12. They come to an agreement with them, the parents. With their consent, you can sign the contract at 14 years of age. Although it is not a fact that a person will become a professional. And it doesn’t bring money - we invest first.
I don’t consider myself a top agent, but even I now have five people who go to children’s tournaments, look at the boys, and talk to them. Andreev, Artemov, Tkachenko have the same thing.
– How does everything happen technologically? An agent comes to a tournament, sees a cool guy - approaches the parents and offers services?
- This is true. Communicates, explains what and how. If the team already has our client, word of mouth works - parents are more accommodating. The first time - there is a cold conversation.
We mainly go to the final stages of Russian championships and cups. Plus the Moscow championship, it is considered the strongest competition in the country. We also receive information from people who are friends with the agency.
– There is an opinion that at the children’s level in Russia there are a lot of talents of Messi’s level, but no one knows about them. Isn't that true?
- Certainly. If some boy appeared and began to show himself brightly, a queue of three or four clubs immediately formed behind him. And it doesn’t matter what region he’s from. Large agencies and communications academies in many places have entire departments working on recruitment.
– Then why does a 14-year-old person need an agent, if even without one there will be a queue of clubs for him?
– Even at this age, there should be a person nearby who understands this matter. Parents often deceive themselves. They think that they can arrange their son’s life, but in fact they are doing harm. Plus, the career of a football player is a delicate thing. Some misfortune happened and I ended up in a situation with a camera. In this case, you are given a lawyer from the state; the family does not have money for a paid one. And the end. It's another matter when you call an agent and he hires a quality lawyer whom he knows well.
A simple example. I have a guy from 2001 at one of the Moscow academies. Super talent. He was injured. The club says: “Sanya, we cannot operate on him because he is not under contract. Chance of recovery – 50%. Let's do this: we split the cost of the operation in half, the flight, recovery and everything else is on you. If he recovers, we will sign him and compensate for everything.”
- How much did you pay?
– The operation in the Italian “Villa Stewart” cost 10 thousand euros. I gave five. Tickets for him, mom, and myself - a thousand each. Restoration - another 40 thousand rubles, 70. I understand that I signed a contract with him, which means I bear responsibility. I understand the club too. They had several cases where they signed guys without an in-depth examination, and they ended up with injuries. It is clear that they are playing it safe. My boyfriend, by the way, is now starting to work in a general group.
– So the clubs even benefit from children’s agents?
- They are still afraid of them. There are different people - one develops a career as a football player, and receives dividends from this. The other pursues only his own goals - he knows about a profitable option for the player, but is unprofitable for himself and keeps silent.
I just have a good relationship with the boy’s club. They know that I won’t pull the player: “Hey, you’re not valued here, let’s go to Zenit.” Transfers in children's football make no sense. If this is a promotion from Mytishchi to CSKA - yes. But why run from Spartak to Dynamo and back? We never initiate this. On the contrary, a year ago I knocked on the door of Lokomotiv like crazy. They did not give a contract to Roma Tugarev, the most talented person in the youth team. Korneev just left, Panchenko hasn’t arrived yet - everyone gets to school at the same time. The guy could easily be taken anywhere. But I myself asked: “Make an agreement.”
How much do agents earn?
– I’m a young agent who signs children. I have nothing from them. Where to get money from?
- With a fixed salary. That's how it is at my agency. We pay 20 thousand rubles. This is a motivation system. Little money - purely for telephone and travel. The rest is buried in percentages, football players. If you want to earn money, work with good football players. Then everything depends on the person. More serious clients appear - you already earn money from them.
– Your agency’s client Marat Bystrov receives 140 thousand rubles a month. This is the level of the top 4 FNL. Even if 10 Bystrovs pay me 10%. These are the same 140 thousand.
-Will you live on them?
– Yes, but it’s not much.
- So keep working. The agency business is not quick money. You will always have enough to live on from what you collect from the football players. But the main money is the commission from the player’s transfer from club to club. Take Oleg Shigaev - he is a young agent, he receives good money for his age. But now he can earn much more due to two transfers - Bystrov from Tambov to Kazakhstan. And Komolov from Amkar - there are three proposals for him.
Pavel Komolov
– Your main income is commissions or payments from contracts?
- It's the second time. Very few transfers happen and agents are paid little. Due to the crisis, the market is dead. Previously, young people were bought, but now even in the Premier League they become free agents.
– Plus, your main client has been at Zenit for a long time.
– Our relationship with Igor is different from everyone else. In terms of finances, they are softer. Very far from 10%. After all, I am the godfather of his son, he is the godfather of mine. We are like brothers.
– The RFU regulations on the activities of agents do not contain information on their fees. It is written only about category D - no more than 10% of the salary. Can others receive any amount?
- Yes, as agreed. At least 20%, at least take half. The same applies to transfers. The commission from the club is in no way tied to the value of the player.
– The Russian Premier League recently announced the payment of clubs to agents for 2017. Krasnodar paid 17 thousand rubles. It happens?
- Quite. I don’t know the details, but usually the agent’s commission is included in the footballer’s money. In the lifts. Or they pay more. The player knows about this - he gives some of it away.
– Why not translate officially?
- Because of the new regulations. According to it, only licensed intermediaries can receive money from clubs. A Pro license costs 10 million rubles, each next year another 3.5 million. Most agents think it makes no sense to pay that much. Therefore, they work without a license, and receive commissions through football players.
– What is the point of such rules?
– Monopolization of the market. One top agent lobbied for this, but the system doesn’t work. The RFU does not have a mechanism to monitor transactions or punish clubs. They themselves know that they bypass almost all the rules. Only four people have an intermediary license - Pasha Andreev, Yura Zaitsev, Vadik Shpinev and one more person - he is new, he received it in the winter.
– It turns out that the list of payments to agents consists of payments to only four people?
- Yes. Even foreigners do not have the right to receive money from a Russian club without accreditation. They must pay 10 million RFU. Or negotiate with a Russian official intermediary to have the money transferred to him. And he will also take his percentage.
– How is the commission amount determined?
– Everything is dictated by the market. If there is a player who is needed by only one club, it is clear that you will not get anything from him. Just to accommodate it. If there is more than one applicant, you can talk. This is where you come to an agreement with management.
– Makhmudov, transfer to Spartak and more than half a million euros in commission. Is this a fair deal?
- Within the market.
- For Makhmudov?!
– At that time, the most talented football player in Russia. He made his bright debut at Saturn at the age of 18. Had a fantastic season. Plus, we gave Emin a significant portion of this money. They didn’t have to give it away, but they thought it was right to do so.
– Makhmudov is now at Neftchi. Let’s imagine that he becomes an outsider in the RFPL. What is your commission?
– Depends on the relationship with coaches and managers. I am dealing with the affairs of Titov and Alenichev. They will say: “San, we don’t pay anything, we need him at Yenisei.” I’ll give it away for free, this is some kind of work for the future. If another club, then 50 thousand euros. Maximum – 100.
– 300 thousand – no? Or like Mordovia, which flew out and paid 400?
- Those days are long gone. Now there is really no money in football.
- Another case. Smolnikova takes Spartak.
“In the winter there was such a conversation. Then Igor hung up a little at Zenit, Mancini was not satisfied with him. And we considered the option with Krasnodar and Spartak. I asked: “If something goes wrong in St. Petersburg, are you interested in Igor?” “Spartak” replied: “Come on, come to us, we’ll think about it.”
– Now Zenit needs him, but, for example, Spartak also really wants him. Ask for a commission of a million?
– There is no adequate assessment here. If we know from the inside that they don’t count on Yeshchenko, Andrey has given up abruptly, the position is bare, then we can ask for a million, given that Spartak is a rich club. But if Yeshchenko is fine, and Smolnikov is taken into competition, then if you go too far, Spartak will refuse. This will harm the player.
Igor could have already moved to Spartak, but a long time ago - after Torpedo. Then five offers came - “Moscow”, “Saturn”, “Lokomotiv”, CSKA and “Spartak”. But he really loved Loko, his student. He said that he wanted to return to his native club.
Are agents really nagging?
– “Sash, we need a defender from Africa. Bring some Negro. We have 400 thousand for this, we’ll split 200 with you.” How often do such offers come in?
- Now there is no such thing. Absolutely not.
- “Dynamo” bought Rausch that way. He came for 1.5 million euros, an additional 1.25 million left the club and was transferred to a company registered at the address of the general director.
- Let's look differently. Rausch plays in Cologne, he has offers from Hannover and Dynamo. “Dynamo” says to the agent: “I will pay you a good commission, and I will give the footballer a higher salary. Give him to us." The agent explains everything to the player. He answers: “Yes, I’m not young anymore, I’ll go to Russia.” The agent comes to the club: “Let’s include my commission in the lifting fees?” - “No, we can’t do that.” Or the football player himself says: “I don’t want to touch this money, it’s better that you get it yourself somehow.” How to get them? A company is registered, a fee is paid to the RFU for a license, a contract is signed, Dynamo transfers the money. The fact that the office is registered at the address of the general director is not a crime.
– So it’s not a fact that the general director got a refund?
– I don’t know.. I became the fourth accredited intermediary in the country.
– Another transfer to Dynamo – Tetteh from Lech. There were strange technical requirements: height - at least 173 centimeters, age - 25-29 years. Are players really searched for using these parameters?
– There is no technical specification as such. Everything is simpler. I'm the head of the club, you're the agent. I say: “We need a left-back” - “Which one?” – “To be at least 170 tall, we don’t want midgets. Quick, with a good left hand” – “Okay”. And you start offering options. Someone interested me. You bargain: “I want a million for it” - “What? I can give you 100” – “500” – “No, 200” – “300” – “Deal with each other.” After the transaction, I draw up a certificate of completion of work. I need to write something in it. That’s why I’m writing that the club has received an application for a player with such and such parameters and playing conditions.
- In short, there is no corruption among agents now?
“Even before, I don’t know why I existed.”
- How for what? There is budget money in some Amkar. I really can’t get them out, I use an agent for this, whom I pay, and he will roll it back.
– Agents can no longer be paid from budget money. Only from extra-budgetary ones - sponsorships. You can dispose of them as you wish. But often clubs don’t have them.
– Okay, I don’t pay the agent directly, but I put his commission and kickback into the player’s allowance.
-You are a talented swindler.
- Why don’t they use this?
– A lot of people are starting to know. If the agent and the manager agreed, they hushed it up immediately. And a football player can shake things up. There is already criminal liability here.
– In Russia it often does not occur. They know a lot about it, but they haven’t jailed anyone.
– Previously, they also said that the organization of an organized crime group is an unprovable article. Only a few people are already sitting.
- Because it is necessary. No agents needed.
- Bye. People don't want to take risks.
- Let's do it again. Have you been offered to participate in a corruption scheme?
– (Smiles – website).
- Was?
- I will not say.
How agents negotiate
– You once worked as Arsenal’s sporting director for a year.
– It was very difficult. There was no understanding with management. This is not a job, but an existence.
– What to do if the transfer budget is zero?
– Invite free agents. Plus they didn’t pay a commission, but they could give a slightly higher salary. When I first arrived, it was the summer window. Alenichev gave a list of eight candidates. Six of them passed. Only Grisha Chirkin was not taken - Anzhi gave him more money. And Abazov - he went to Rostov.
We did a good job in winter. I flew to Samar to see Jan Mucha. He convinced me to take a pay cut. He moved on and delivered a masterpiece ending to the season. I flew to Khagush in BATE. But with Bechirai it almost didn’t work out. Fatos's contract in China for 500 thousand dollars a year has ended. I flew to Vienna, where Montenegro played Austria. Maryana Kashchelan introduced me to him, we held negotiations. He named the conditions. They turned out to be acceptable - three players received that kind of money at Arsenal. They could easily pay. But the agent asked for 50 thousand euros. The management thought for a long time whether to pay them or not. In the end it was refused. Bechiray moved to Dynamo Minsk, then ended up in Moscow.
– How much did you earn at Arsenal?
- How?
– We agreed that to save money, I work without a salary. If we sell someone, 20% of the amount goes to me.
– There is no selection service at Ufa. But I heard that the club doesn’t need scouts at all. Transfers happen differently. For example, Carrera wants a right-back and is recruiting Trabucchi. Marco watches from his own or calls agents he knows in different countries and asks them for a lawyer. And no scouts. Does everyone work like this?
– Depends on the club. In Spartak - just as you said. Not so at CSKA. There, a football player is really a candidate for the scouting service. Scouts and agents work at Krasnodar - and rightly so.
Ideally, this is what happens. For example, the Eurosport team knows that Maniakov is aware of everything. He says: “We need a player.” At this time, scouts are also looking for him.. I call: “Listen, Sanya Golovin is a good defender, let’s bring him to you” - “Why him?” - “He’s ready to move.” Eurosport goes to the scouts. They propose their candidacy or say: “Oh, Golovin is super!” And they enter into negotiations.
We must understand that it is unrealistic to cover everything with the scouting service. I am Zhenya Chernov's agent. Let’s say I find out that his position at Zenit is shaky. Malafeev calls me and says: “Sasha, we’re breaking up.” I immediately get involved and start offering it to the leaders of other clubs. They send the candidate to their people, make a decision and give an answer. This is a few days. At the same time, the scouting service of the conditional London Arsenal does not know about this. Because only the agent is aware of the player’s situation at the club.
– Why does Spartak often buy through agents?
- Question for them. So it's so convenient. Although they also have scouts. And they offer good candidates. Jamaican Leon Bailey currently plays for Bayer. They want to buy it in England. And when he was still playing in Belgium, he was led by Spartak. Could become the second Promes. They didn’t take him, but the man will soon be in a top club. And there are many such examples. Scouts recommend it to clubs, but they refuse, and the player then becomes a top player. But there are also opposite cases. The agent brought a guy from a good championship, but he was no good.
– Does CSKA not communicate with agents at all?
- Well, no, there is a connection. I have contact with the head of the breeding service, Maxim Dyukov. I called: “Who do you need?” - “Only Russian and young.” I give you the schedule. Maxim cannot call Zenit directly and ask: “What do you have about Chernov?” Because they will answer him: “You know, nothing.” And through me you can really find out information.
– Do they call you more often or do you offer clients?
- We used to. Now it's two-way traffic. But if my player is looking for a team, then, of course, I call.
– What is the most difficult thing in negotiations?
– Agree on the commission. Transitions have not yet been disrupted because of this. But Galitsky once personally called: “San, I won’t give you anything.” He was hooked that I was demanding something. In the end I didn’t pay, but that’s how it works.
Sergei Nikolaich is simple in terms of communication. I constantly suggested Makhmudov to Krasnodar when he played in Spartak. One day I was driving a car and Khashig called: “Well, what’s wrong with your Emin?” - “I’m waiting for a call from you.” He starts a conference call with Galitsky: “Sash, hello? Tell me your opinion." I'm starting to make arguments. “I understand, I heard you, I’ll call you back.” Emin turned out to be uninteresting, but the point is that Galitsky immediately turns on. He could have said to Khashig: “Vadim, talk to yourself.” And then I talked in person. Fedun and Giner would hardly have talked to the agent.
– You mentioned Chernov several times. Is he talented?
– In winter, Spartak and Krasnodar were interested in him. They themselves asked: “Voice the conditions under which he can transfer.” But Zhenya decided to stay in Tosno until the summer.
Do agents help football players?
– What is the most common request from clients?
- To borrow money. Once I gave a guy two million rubles for a car. His salary was 900 thousand, but he wanted four million. I saved two and borrowed two. And I bought an X6.
– Are the football players turned around in cars?
- Less now. Different stories have happened before. Karpin told me one. He is the coach of Spartak, the end of the season, all the midfielders are breaking down. The understudies trained with the base, and he directed them. One guy had a ladder in his contract. He receives five thousand dollars, plays five matches - it reaches 10, then 12, 15, 20. He comes up: “Valery Georgich, I need to raise my salary” - “You already have 12, how much more?” – “I don’t have enough” – “Just a second. Where do you live?" - “At the base” - “Do you have a wife?” - “No” - “Children?” - “No” - “Are you missing 12 thousand dollars?” - "Yes. I got myself a new car." Then the same football player played on another team and drove a car for 40 thousand dollars. At the same time, he did not have an apartment.
– What is your most unusual request?
- “Buy snus, because they don’t sell it here.” I brought it. The client's desire is the law.
– What if it’s coke?
- No. It's taboo.
– Did you ask prostitutes for a ride?
- Not once. Now the generation of players is more professional. Previously, the whole team could join the club. Now alone, so that no one notices. Although there are still those who receive a salary and play truant with friends. He plays in a regional club, he is a graduate of the Moscow Academy. The tour ends, he goes to Moscow for the weekend - restaurants, girlfriends. Two days later he comes back - half a million is gone. This is Premier League level.
- About chicks. I heard that among football players there is a list of girls from show business who can be hired for money.
- There is such a thing, they told me. I didn’t see the names, but one football player said: “Can you imagine? Even this happens." You pay grandma and you can bring some girl from TV.
– A player with great potential who was not revealed due to partying?
- Misha Svetozarov played in Loko-88 - he is extremely gifted (for the last three seasons he has been playing for Okean from Kerch in the Crimean Championship - website).. But at a young age, cigarettes and girlfriends started. One guy always stuck to AUE. Young, played in the Moscow region in the PFL. About two years ago, in a fight, he stabbed a man and sat down.
There are a lot of people who got burned playing slot machines. We recently met with Arsen Minasov, he told the player’s story. When Arsene signed him, he was talented. Simply top. Spartak bought him from another team for a double. I paid money for the young man! He played in the youth team, then got worse and worse. Arsen was taken from Russia - to one country, then another. Finally finished. Now he calls Minasov: “Give me money.” He sits tight on the bets.
The other client is mine. He showed promise and was part of the 1995 national team. But my career didn’t work out because f###o. I gave up football, lived in Yekaterinburg, and went to the post office. It turns out that the cops are slowing down. They opened the package - it contained cocaine. Now under investigation as a distributor.
– Have you ever encountered any wild hobbies?
– This is Denis Boyarintsev. Without scuba gear, he dives underwater and hunts there. Vadik Evseev always hounded him: “What, you see a puddle, dive in and mess around there?” Although this is no laughing matter - it is dangerous, there are many deaths. Oxygen is running out, what if it gets caught on something? Immediately panic begins.
– Super well-read football player?
– Igor Smolnikov. I learned English on my own and studied with a tutor via Skype. Speaks freely. I went to London for an operation, talked with doctors, knows all the terms. Moreover, he taught for himself, although there was an idea to go to Europe.
Zhenya Bashkirov is something. Theatre, cinema, books, music. One day we sat and talked about it for three hours. He talked about the St. Petersburg theater, where performances last 6-7 hours. People eat during the performance. One time I was sick and watched films. He writes: “The Revenant” with DiCaprio is a must watch” – “Zhenya, I’ve already watched it.” He sketches books periodically: “Read this, this.” Moreover, he recommends unknown authors. Curzio Malaparte. Romain Gary.
Evgeniy Bashkirov
– Do clients talk about agreements?
- We don’t discuss. Taboo for me. I'm not involved in this.
– Chugainov accused your client goalkeeper Skornyakov of giving up the match.
– I know Lekha and his family very well. It's an accident.
– Are two goals through your hands an accident?
- He is incapable of this.
– Why did you take him to Arsenal after that?
- Not me. Then two goalkeepers came to watch – he and Revyakin. Sasha Filimonov is close friends with Revyakin's agents. But I looked at both and chose Lekha.
– Are you being threatened because of your work?
- Happens. Former clients call, with whom they did not part very well: “I have friends, they will call you.” The last case - a guy called: “I was told to move to another club, but without you. I’ve made my decision, I’m moving on, thank you.” We promised him a portion of the agency fee when he first joined the current team. And they decided not to give it away. If he betrayed him, then why? He’s like: “Here, they’ll come to you, you’ll have to deal with it” - “Just warn people, we also have claims against you. And tell me how you did.” In the end, no one came.
Football players always have the right to choose. I tell them: “If you don’t want to work with me, tell me to my face. We will meet with your future agent and discuss everything. Just don’t throw it away, it makes you angry.” This is how they say in one club now: “Either you leave your agent, or you won’t play for us” - “I’m tearing it up, I want it from you.” The player calls and tells us about it. I answer: “We didn’t receive a penny from you, but we provided services for a certain amount.”
– Does crime revolve around agents?
- Yes, still. Each agent belongs to some community of people.
– Who are you visiting?
- I do not want to talk about it.
– But there are people above you too?
- Not above us. There are simply people - my friends - who help in this business.
- Are they protecting?
– You can’t say that. The roof is when you make tea, I come and say: “Pay” - “Fuck you.” And your car caught fire or skidded somewhere in the entrance. You write to the police - they can’t find me. Here you understand that it is better to pay. Because then I will smear you away from others like you. But now there is no such thing.
- What is there?
– I’m 42 years old, I grew up on the outskirts of Mytishchi. You understand that I have friends from childhood. I can come to them and tell them about issues that I myself am not able to solve. But these are friends. I don't bash them.
– How does an agent live if there are no friends?
- Floundering at the bottom - the second league, the first. It's hard to get to big money. The football players will be pushed out because there is no mechanism to hold them back. Of the ten, five will remain. When there are friends, seven remain.
– How can friends influence a football player to stay?
- Yes, they can.
- Should I talk?
- Yes. But usually I do the talking myself.
– The last time you used your connections?
- Recently. One RFPL club told the player: “Either you break the contract with the agent, or you leave.” They wanted everyone on the team to become under their control. We met with the manager, the conversation turned out to be constructive. They heard each other, he understood who I was friends with. I hope this doesn't happen again.
Carrera, Alenichev
– Who is the best agent of Russia?
– German Tkachenko and Oleg Artemov’s group. Oleg is the main person, but there are still people behind him. Both have serious connections in the management of the clubs. They also communicate at the federal level - with people from the government, governors. German also speaks very interestingly. Not just: “Look at the football player.”
– Tell us about Behemoth (Timur Gurtskaya – website). He is considered a shadow agent who influences the entire Russian football.
- Timur? Well, it doesn’t affect everything. This is an exaggeration...
“They say he gets a percentage of most deals in the Premier League.
- Hardly. He receives only from those who contact him. Basically it's Spartak. I don’t know the essence of his business, but he has been in football for a long time. Appeared before me. A former basketball player himself. A fairly intelligent person, he acts as a consultant. He doesn’t have his own players, but he doesn’t need them.
– What’s that like a consultant?
– He communicates, finds out information, and can present it differently than they are used to at the club. He knows more because he is inside the system. Plus they trust him at Spartak. His expert opinion on the players, the situation, and finances is valued there. There is nothing wrong. Alenichev is consulting with me. And with him - Spartak.
– He participated in the transfer of Melgarejo from Kuban. Why do you need a consultant in this case?
- Suppose Spartak says: “Find out everything about Melgarejo, what is possible and what is not.” The club itself will never know what real offers are on the side. And Timur breaks through his channels. For example, he calls me: “San, is it true that these people are interested in Melgarejo?” - “Nonsense.” And so with several people. Then he conveys the information: “He doesn’t go there, he goes there, they give him such and such money.” Then he meets with the player - the club has no right if the person has contact. And enters into negotiations.
– Trabucchi and Spartak – is it a normal story that the club buys all the people through a friend of the head coach?
– Absolutely normal, if it suits the shareholders. This exists abroad. An example is Guardiola's brother. The rules of the game are discussed - who gets what and how much from it - and the work begins.
– Does Carrera have anything to do with this?
- Hardly. He has a good contract and values his name.
– Gerkus says that the normal system is when the club buys players itself, and the coach works with them.
- It is not normal. Each player must agree with the coach. There are five candidates, the coach chooses from them.
- The system is working. Semin didn’t want Farfan, but he became the best player.
- Let's watch the second season and draw conclusions. It helped in the short term.
– Smolnikov’s salary is 2.2 million euros. This is fine?
- No comments.
– How much would they give him in Europe?
– There were offers from the Premier League. Not specific, but Leicester considered Igor before the championship. We talked about Sunderland. And salaries there, even among outsiders, are comparable to Zenit. But we then decided that there was no point in moving. Swap the Champions League anthem and the fight for the championship for some outback?
– To a full stadium at all matches. Constant games with Manchester United and Chelsea.
“At that time, there was a high probability that a big club might be interested in him. On the one hand, this happened even if he played in England. On the other hand, we bet on two European campaigns - the Champions League and Euro 2016. But in the first case, Igor broke down in December. In the second, he didn’t play very well.
– But mostly people don’t want to leave?
- They want to. And they are ready to go down. Makhmudov did just that. In “Wings” he received more than 15 thousand euros, in “Boavista” he went for four. I really wanted to play in Europe. But there was a hassle with a visa for my wife and child. The club abandoned him; no one was working on him. It's just that Europe is not always better than Russia. The same Portuguese championship is weaker than the RFPL. There are only four teams, the rest are not the same.
- Will Golovin leave?
– We are working on this. Oleg Artemov is studying. And the guide to Europe, I think, is Oleg Yarovinsky. He is well known there; he has worked for a long time with the Czech agency Viktor Kolář. I called Artemov back in early May. He named the countries: England, Italy, Germany. There is real interest from there - they received direct calls from these countries. Plus, it’s convenient that the player himself doesn’t lose anything when moving. I don’t think that at CSKA he has a salary that they won’t give there. Therefore, the probability of a deal this summer is 75 percent.
– You are an agent of Titov and Alenichev.
– I am the person who helps them.
– Alenichev completely discredited himself in Spartak.
- Complete nonsense. I think that the team leaders did not trust him and did not support him. He did a great job. Selection is not only recruitment, it is also separation. He cleared out Spartak. Those players who appeared under him are real leaders. Three players were chosen for the position of defensive midfielder - Diarra, the Brazilian himself and someone else. They took Fernando, Alenichev took him. And he became a leader. It’s just important that all systems interact in the club. This didn’t happen at Arsenal, so they were relegated. “Spartak” is the same.
– Alenichev and Titov were drinking at the Spartak training camp and the losers went out to train.
“They can drink beer, but they can’t go out to practice drunk. This is 100%.
Photo: instagram.com/manyakov_av(1-5,8,11,12,14,16,19); fc-zenit.ru; RIA Novosti /Alexey Filippov, Vitaly Belousov;
the site talked to the first deputy head of the Committee on the Status and Transfers of Football Players, Denis Lutyuk, to tell readers how they become agents.
The craft of a football agent is quite complex and hidden from the uninitiated. It is often difficult for an outsider to understand its rules and features, and even more difficult to enter the circle of agents himself. We asked the head of the Committee on the Status and Transfers of Football Players, Denis Lutyuk, how one can become an agent, what rules and laws govern their activities, and whether it is realistic for neophytes to succeed in this industry.
- Denis, first of all, who is a football agent and what football laws does he obey?
A football player's agent is a representative of a player's business interests who deals with his career, employment negotiations, support in everyday life and legal matters, salary issues and many others. Of course, there are regulations that regulate the activities of agents. This is, firstly, the regulations on the activities of FIFA and FFU agents, as well as all other regulatory documents - on the status and transfers of football players, disciplinary rules, regulations for competitions (in Ukraine we have the Premier League and PFL).
- How, in fact, do they become football agents?
Any applicant must pass an exam, and after that also the procedure for signing a code of professional conduct and personal liability insurance.
I know that when training coaches, their former career, ranks and titles are of a certain importance. And if a former football player wants to become an agent, does he have any benefits due to his former merits?
There are no concessions, the requirements are the same for everyone.
- They say that in order to become a football agent, you used to have to make a substantial cash deposit...
This is one of the myths that I have heard so many times. They name amounts of 100 thousand Swiss francs, euros, American dollars... They name a variety of options. But the point is that the agent is obliged to insure his activities; he signs a professional activity insurance policy, which must cover at least 100 thousand Swiss francs of possible damage. The only thing: if it is not possible to draw up such an insurance policy, then you can make a bank guarantee for the same amount in a Swiss bank - funds can be withdrawn from it only with the permission of FIFA.
- How do agents pass exams? Does it look like in any university - lectures, consultations, then - they pull tickets?
No, applicants for the title of agent must prepare themselves in order to approach the exam as knowledgeable, mature, ready-to-work people. The examination procedure is established by FIFA regulations. Twice a year, on uniform dates set for the whole world - usually at the end of March and at the end of September - exams are held. They consist of 20 questions - 15 from FIFA, and another five are prepared by us, the FFU.
- How many agents are licensed by the Ukrainian federation?
To date, the FFU has issued 106 football agent certificates, but at the beginning of this year, according to the decision of the Committee on the Status and Transfers of Football Players, materials were transferred to the FFU CDC, which deprived 25 agents of their certificates.
What can be a reason for revoking an agency certificate? Roughly speaking, how mischievous must an agent be to lose his license?
First of all, this is a violation of the regulations on the activities of agents, as well as the regulations on the status and transfers of football players, the code of professional conduct, the FFU Charter and the code of ethics and fair play.
We often hear complaints about agents from clubs - they say that players are lured away and litigation begins over financial issues. Does it happen that football players themselves complain about their business representatives?
I can list all the options: football players complain about clubs and agents, clubs complain about football players and agents, agents complain about clubs and football players. Everything - for everyone, and all this happens in life.
- But do the agents win in these lawsuits or not? Isn't the "devil" as scary as they make him out to be?
Let's just say that in most cases there is not enough evidence to establish any offenses.
- That is, the matter comes to a dead end...
It often happens when a football player wants to break off relations with an agent, not because of a violation of the terms of the contract, ethics or anything else, but because another agent came and said that he is better than others and has offers from other clubs. Or clubs can offer a contract, but stipulate that the player forget that he had an agent.
Today, in the circle of football agents, there are those who defiantly say: “I do not have an agent’s license, I am not an agent, but a lawyer, a business manager or simply a player’s confidant.” Can FIFA and the FFU somehow regulate the activities of such persons?
In fact, such persons are outside the jurisdiction of FIFA and the FFU. What does it mean? Even if there is the necessary evidence regarding their activities, it will not be possible to apply to FIFA and the FFU for protection of their rights. That is, anyone who may be harmed by the activities of such persons will not be able to receive protection from the official football bodies, unlike those transactions that take place with the participation of registered agents. That is, when participating in the affairs of unlicensed agents, collaborating with them, football players and clubs act at their own peril and risk.
While studying agent lists in different countries, I noticed two extremes. On the one hand there is Italy with 1058 agents, on the other there is Kazakhstan with five. What is the reason for this difference and is Ukraine’s position with our eighty agents normal?
When there are only a few agents, this is abnormal, but when there are about a thousand, this is too much. For our country, with its football pyramid and the number of professional players and clubs, the current number of agents is normal.
I know that many agents working on the Ukrainian market received a license not in our country, but in Russia, Moldova and even Saudi Arabia. Does the FFU also regulate their activities?
Of course, within the framework of the regulations on the activities of FIFA agents, which are the same for everyone.
Okay, let’s say a person received an agent certificate from the FFU. Which territory does it cover - only Ukraine or the entire football world?
Any licensed agent can operate throughout the world.
But why then are there cases when a football player is represented by one agent while playing in one championship, and when he moves to another - by a new one?
This is a question from the area of intersection of interests. There are agents who have more connections in a particular region, and then it is easier for them to help this player in a new championship and club.
- Fine. A person with a license begins to work. How to open the door to the world of football for him?
It’s just not done that way, and there are even times when I have to dissuade people who want to get an agency certificate, because I see that they do not have the necessary experience and contacts with clubs. You just can’t earn millions in this difficult profession. Stories when you found a promising football player, brought him by the hand to a super club and got rich - these are from the category of fairy tales or science fiction. First of all, if you go to a big club, who will listen to you? Secondly, where do you get the experience and knowledge to understand the situation, where do you get the connections to promote your client, if you yourself are a beginner in this business? You need to have the necessary reputation even just for football experts to listen to you.
We've touched on the topic - what qualities a football agent should have. You mentioned experience, connections, and reputation, what else?
In addition to knowing all the regulatory documents and understanding football in order to find little football pearls, you also need to be able to maintain business relationships and negotiate.
- How much can an agent earn? Is this a certain percentage of a footballer’s earnings? Let's say 15%...
Not every football player will agree to such a percentage... Normal is 10%.
And if we take the relationship between agents and football players, when, in what periods of their career, does a player need an agent?
Strictly speaking, a normal football player always needs an agent. He is involved in signing contracts, re-signing, managing his affairs, and even everyday life. Everyone. That is, so that the football player does not have a headache from non-football matters, and he sees one task before himself - to train, play football and listen to the demands of the coach. All other matters only hinder the professional player, and to solve them he hires an agent. The main question is that the agent’s help is practical and does no harm.
What percentage of football players do not use the services of agents at all? Is it really possible to live your life in football and not turn to their help?
This percentage is quite large.
- In general, is it advisable for a professional to do without such intermediaries?
I think this is more detrimental to the football player. Then, when you read the documents that are signed by the player himself with the club, you see that they are “one-sided”: that is, there are only bonuses for the employer and only responsibilities for the player. But everyone is smart in hindsight, but every day you need to be ready to defend your interests.
Has it ever happened when an agent recruited a lot of clients and then could not cope with the responsibility assigned to himself and keep up with everyone?
Without surnames - and this happens.
In recent years, there has been a lot of talk about the upcoming reform of the agent profession. They say that FIFA is planning big changes, and this profession will almost disappear...
FFU received a letter from FIFA this year regarding the reform of agency activities. Such processes are really underway, and there is information that next year the issue of changing the structure will be considered, and instead of the institution of an agent, the institution of mediation will be introduced. But, it seems to me, this will only be the beginning of a transition period, and the profession of a football agent will still exist.
What is the agent's fair play? What does he have the right to do in relations with clubs and football players, and what is considered taboo in the civilized football world?
The main thing is not to encourage a football player with a valid contract to terminate the contract with his club early without good reason.
- Who can you name among the elders of the agency shop in Ukraine?
We began issuing certificates to agents in 2003, after receiving permission from FIFA. Since then, we have issued, as I already said, 106 licenses. Among the first recipients, in the top ten, I can name the famous former football player Konstantin Sosenko (Kyiv, SFS company - approx. A.V. ), Alexey Lyundovsky (AL&IK football management agency). There are currently 82 active agents in Ukraine.
- This spring the FFU held another exam for agents. How many people entered the profession?
8 people were allowed to take the exam, three of them took the exam again because the first attempt was unsuccessful. One person didn't show up. Of the seven present, all seven passed, but not all of them completed the procedure for obtaining a certificate. They still need to sign a code of professional conduct and resolve the issue of professional liability insurance. Only then will they receive their certificates.
Have you ever come across some weirdos who, despite the seriousness of the procedure, came to the exams completely unprepared for both the questions and the work they want to do?
Yes, sometimes people come who have never played football before and have only a general idea about it. Sometimes they even passed the exams successfully.
- And how are their successes in the future?
Some people managed to create and run a more or less successful football business. But it happened that I immediately had to explain to a person that, understanding his passion, I did not see any opportunities for success. When communicating with applicants, after 10 years of experience working with agents, you already understand whether a person is promising in this environment.
From personal experience I know that agents often become former football players, former journalists and people who previously simply worked somewhere in the physical culture and sports environment, but not in this profession. What is the average portrait of a football agent like?
In principle, this is a normal categorization of agents. Yes, indeed, these may be people who have not played football themselves, but they still need to understand the game and have a certain authority in these circles. Well, connections, of course.
- Is a football agent a “lone wolf”, or does the future belong to large agency firms?
In most cases, agents actually work alone, sometimes they unite, but we cannot say that these are some very large companies - this is an association of 2-3, up to 5 agents.
Arthur Valerko, website
It may seem to supporters that the football world is simple and unpretentious - the coach of one team came, looked at the players of other teams, chose the athlete he liked, bargained and acquired.
However, everything is much more complicated. The relationship between the club and the player develops through a number of intermediaries who represent the interests of the player. Some of the agents earn much more than the players.
For example, in Brazil, agents have the right to use their own funds to buy a player’s transport sheet or part of it for further negotiations with clubs and receive huge profits.
The football player's agents receive a commission from his earnings, which is determined individually and amounts to approximately 10% of the fee. The players agree to this because the agents - sociable and cunning people - are able to negotiate a high salary with the club. Athletes themselves do not always adequately assess their abilities and may conclude an unfavorable contract for themselves.
The RSF cannot influence the relationships of players with agents, since this is a matter for each individual. The Union actively intervenes in the relations between clubs and agents, and officially posted on the website recommendations on the work of agents, that is, teams need to refuse to enter into agreements with agents and conduct transactions for the transfer of athletes between Russian clubs. Members of the commission, relying on the not great Russian market, believe that clubs can peacefully agree on the transfer of football players without intermediaries.
This situation arose due to the fact that agents influence the athlete's transition to a large extent.
A striking example is the following situation: a football agent undertakes to ensure the transfer of an athlete from one team to another, claiming that without him this purchase will not be carried out. For his “persuasions,” the agent demands a price that may even exceed the player’s transfer price.
This situation can lead to a sharp rise in the transfer price if several clubs are interested in the athlete. In this case, the agent’s bonus increases significantly, since the player’s transfer to the club will depend on his words.
Pavel Andreev– one of the most influential football agents in Russia. This man remains in the shadows, but the list of athletes with whom he collaborates speaks volumes: Anyukov, Bystrov, the Kombarov brothers, Shunin, Sychev and other famous football players. Payments to agents are not disclosed, but transfer earnings are no less than the real value of the players (for example, the transfer of the Kombarov brothers).
Arshavin, when moving from Zenit to Arsenal, replaced his distributor Pavel Andreev with Dennis Lachter, who is also a well-known agent in Russia.
German Tkachenko owns an entire company consisting of several agents, whose clients are: Kerzhakov, Ignashevich, Kasaev, Smolov, Shatov, Semshov, Aliev, Aldonin. The famous captain of Spartak MSK Tikhonov works in this office. Experts have calculated that the transfer of Kerzhakov alone is approximately more than 20 million euros.
Oleg Artemov is a Russian agent who works closely with the German company O. Wendt. The following football players collaborate with him: Samedov, Pavlyuchenko, Shishkin, Pogrebnyak, Torbinsky, Bukharov and others. In Europe, the interests of the players are represented by the German side, and in Russia by Oleg Artemov. In total, the cost of all players who cooperate with this company and play in the Russian Premier League is more than 50 million euros. Each player gives approximately 10% of their earnings to agents.
Alexey Safronov and his company work with young footballers and are considered a reputable company. The following football players collaborate with Safronov: Burlak, Shchennikov, Granat, Dzyuba, Parshivlyuk, Yakovlev and others. There are no huge numbers here yet, but the amount of talent is impressive.
Gaining increasing popularity agent Arsen Minasov and his company, which work with Shirokov and Zyryanov. In addition to Russian football players, Minasov’s office is organizing the transfer of Corluk and Vukojevic from Croatia.
The fact that Zhirkov’s former agent, after his transfer to Chelsea, filed a claim for the return of lost profits of about 100 million rubles helps judge the earnings of football agents. The reason for this is that everything was decided without his participation regarding the transfer.
Russian football players today give preference to agents from abroad, counting either on moving abroad or on the integrity of the agents. A popular agency is Goalkick Sportmanagement, which employs international football agents around the world. This company works with such athletes as Dzagoev, Akinfeev, Eremenko, Zhirkov, Kokorin and famous football players Juan Mata, Santi Cazorla and others.
The fight against agents and their arbitrariness, if present, is the right thing to do, but it may turn out that the president of the RFU will find a powerful enemy who maintains neutrality - football agents.
“Help me find a team! Help organize a viewing! Become my agent! – my day begins with letters like these from young football players and their parents. As a rule, this happens when the guys graduate from football school and the question arises: what to do next? Finding a team is extremely difficult, almost impossible. At such a moment, everyone has a brilliant thought: “We need an agent!” Everyone rushes to the Internet and starts googling “football agent.” And at this point, let's say “stop.” This does not work.
Finding an agent is not just a decision made when you can't find a team. This is an important step that needs to be taken responsibly. If you want to find an agent, start looking at age 14. Not just a person who calls himself an agent, but a person who will constantly deal with your child and monitor him: his play, training, recovery from injuries, nutrition and even studies.
Agents, like clubs, have a selection system. The agent travels all over the country and goes to all kinds of matches with only one goal - to find the most talented (in his opinion) player and offer him cooperation. A good agent doesn't wait for people to call him.
Every year thousands of children graduate from sports schools, and there are fewer and fewer professional clubs. And, of course, not everyone becomes a football player. But tearing out your hair is pointless. We need to take a sober look at the situation. If you understand that you are “not up to the task”, that at some point you missed the time when you needed to train harder, go study and look for yourself in adulthood. Believe me, it doesn't matter when you finish football. What matters is how quickly you adapt to life without him. And the older you get, the harder it is to do this.
To those who are forced to leave the field, but do not want to part with the game, I want to say: football is not only about football players. These are presidents, coaches, doctors, scouts, commentators and many, many other interesting professions. And the football knowledge that you acquired in childhood will help you more than once in the future.
And now - for the most persistent. What to do when neither clubs nor agents notice you? If you think that this is just bad luck or a mistake, and believe in yourself, then I advise you to participate in a project called “MyTryOut”. In it, young guys show themselves to scouts of professional football clubs, and the clubs and schools themselves come to find the best.
The project was created by guys who at one time, like thousands of boys, were faced with the problem of finding a club. And I will come to the October tryout to find talent. Don't look for an agent on the Internet - come and show yourself.