What comes to your mind when you here someone calling himself or herself a football agent.Football agents are representatives of clubs and football players.That means they makes decisions most financial decisions on behalf of those they represent.Football agents have become the centered of attraction in this era of football.Football agents are the middlemen between football players and clubs.In today blog news,we will list 6 top football agents in the world.
Jorge Mendes
The 59 year old Portuguese agent is a household name around the world.He is behind the £94 move of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester united to Real Madrid.Jorge Mendes founded his agency Gestifute in 1996 and has been an active football agent ever since.Jorge Mendes first client was Nuno Espirito Santos current West Ham manager.He helped Nuno Espirito Santos move from Vitória de Guimarães to Deportivo La Coruña for a fee of £1 million in 1996.Some of his clients are Cristiano Ronaldo(striker Al Nassr – Saudi Arabia),Jose Mourinho(manager at Benfica – Portugal),James Rodriguez(winger at León – Mexico),David de Gea (goalkeeper at Florentina – Italy), Joao Felix (winger at Al Nassr – Saudi Arabia), Nuno Espirito Santos (manager at West Ham – England).
2. Mino Raiola
Just like Jorge Mendes,Mino Raiola is one name that will never be forgotten in the football world.Even thouf he is not with us,his memories will last forever.Mino Raiola was known and took advantage of media influence to help his clients get the desired clubs they want and also securing lucrative deals for them.The Italian and Dutch agent passed away on 30th April,2022. He is noted for securing Paul Pogba’s record-breaking transfer back to Manchester United from Juventus in 2016 for £89 million.Some of his clients were Erling Haaland (striker at Manchester city – England),Zlatan Ibrahimovic (retired football and current AC Milan director),Paul Pogba(Midfielder at AS Monaco – France),Romelu Lukaku (striker at Napoli – Italy).
3. Pini Zahavi
The 83 year old super agent has been in this business for over four decades.Pini Zahavi started as a sports journalist before resigning to go full time as a football agent.His first deal was in 1979 when he helped his homeland defender Avi Cohen to move from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Liverpool.Since then he was involved in Brazilian star Neymar Junior sensational move from Barcelona to Paris Saint Germain for a world record fee of £222 million in 2017 and also helping Russian Business Tycoon Roman Abramovich in buying Chelsea FC in 2003.Pini Zahavi clients are Neymar Junior,Rio Ferdinand,Carlos Tevez, Ashley Cole.
4. Jonathan Barnett
ICM Stellar Sports co founder Jonathan Barnett takes this spot.The 50 year old British former agent was various vital and instrumental in the football world.He was man behind Wales international Gareth Bale move from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid for then world record fee of £100 million in 2013.His Clients were Eduardo Camavinga,Saul Niguez,Ben Chilwell and Gareth Bale.
5. Volker Struth
Volker Struth founded Sports360 GmbH in 2007. His first client was Lukas Podolski,former Arsenal and Inter Milan striker.He helped the German striker move from FC Köln to Bayern Munich for a fee of £10 million in 2006.He agency Sports360 GmbH represents Real Madrid legend Toni Kroos,Timo Werner, Fabian Schar,Mario Gotze, Noah Okafor, Niklas Sule,Alan Varela.
6. Kia Joorabchian
Kia Joorabchian was the man behind Philippe Coutinho talked about move to Barcelona from Liverpool for an astonishing £142 million in 2018.Kia Joorabchian has represented Carlos Tevez,David Luiz,Philippe Coutinho.
7. Alessandro Lucci
Alessandro Lucci is an Italian agent.Alessandro Lucci is the founder of World Soccer Agency which is one of the most influential sports agency in Europe.His first deal was helping Brazilian left back Serginho move from his native club Sao Paulo to Italian giants AC Milan in 1999 for a fee of £8.9 million.His clients are Moise Kean,Riccardo Calafiori,Marco Carnesecchi,Dejan Kulusevski,Former Manchester city forward Edin Džeko,Alessandro Florenzi,Joaquin Correa,Juan Musso,Davide Zappacosta,Maat Caprini.
8. Rafaela Pimenta
Rafaela Pimenta is a Brazilian lawyer and agent.She took over from Mino Raiola when he passed on 30th April,2022. Her clients are Matthijs de Ligt,Noussair Mazraoui,Marco Verratti, Erling Haaland and Paul Pogba.
9. Federico Pastorella
2021 Globe Soccer Awards best agent, Federico Pastorella takes the ninth spot. The Italian is the founder of P&P Sport Management and has over 30 years in sports management. Federico Pastorella was key in helping Andrea Dossena move from Udinese to Liverpool on July,2008 for a fee of £7 million. Federico Pastorella clients are Napoli and Belgian star Romelu Lukaku, Arthur Melo, Federico Bernardeschi.
10. Jose Otin
Spainsh super agent and Bahía Internacional founder Jose Otin takes the tenth spot.Jose Otin is mostly known for representing top Spanish football players.Jose Otin was behind Fernando Torres move from Liverpool to Chelsea for then British record fee £57.5 million.Jose Otin also represents Pedro,Jesus Navas,Javi Martinez.
11. Fernando Felicevich
Vibra Fútbol founder Fernando Felicevich takes this spot. The Argentine was instrumental in Alexis Sánchez move to Manchester united from Arsenal in 2018.This deal made Alexis Sanchez one of the top earners at that time. Fernando Felicevich also represents Arturo Vidal and Claudio Bravo.
12. Pere Guardiola
Brother of Manchester city manager Pep Guardiola takes this spot.The Girona chairman established his sports agency in 2009.He represents Uruguayan all time goal scorer Luis Suarez,Andres Iniesta and his brother Pep Guardiola.
13. Thomas Kroth
Former German midfielder end the list.Thomas Kroth played for Bundesliga clubs Borussia Dortmund,Hamburger SV, FC Köln and Eintracht Frankfurt.He established his agency PRO Profil GmbH after retirement.His clients are Manuel Neuer,Sebastian Rode and Jonathan Burkardt.
