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| Between 12/02/2002 to 26/02/2002, licensed players' agent Barry Baker spent time answering those questions that you had always wanted to ask. Thanks to him and everyone who contributed. |
Billy: "I am player in the Swedish divison 2 league here in Sweden and I`m hoping to get out of the country and get a trial with a club to become a professional player, how should I approach them and what can I say that make the clubs interested of me?"
Agent: "The Swedish Div 2 is not known for its high standard, try to move in a division in Sweden, then you can move abroad." |
Adam: "How do I apply to be a 'free agent' player?"
Agent: "Everybody is a free agent, if you haven't signed a contract." |
Robert Bridge: "How did it come about you becoming a Football agent, did you stumble into it or has it always been your intention?"
Agent: "It was always something I wanted to do, so I did it, it's been very hard work though." |
Paul: "How does an agent earn his wage?"
Agent: "No, a percentage from the players basic wage." |
Dan: "Is it possible to be an agent without being registered through Fifa or the local FA?"
Agent: "No, a player will get fined and suspended if he uses a non licensed agent." |
Unknow: "I am 14 years old and I feel that I can play professional soccer in the US, but that isn't for me but my question is how can I get the attention from scouts around the world."
Agent: "Good performances will help, but you can’t move abroad until you are 17." |
Yann: "Can a soccer player with a dream to play in Europe get any agent or is it top agent for top player? And where can you find agents? At what age can you really get working to be a pro soccer player, and how?"
Agent: "Contact the FIFA.com web page, on there you will find a list of agents, but remember you need to be marketable for a agent to help you. Agents can’t work miracles." |
Alex: "I am a player like "v. Bommel or Viera" - what is the best way to learn to grow like Viera?"
Agent: "Eat loads of pasta and don’t forget the Vick’s on the shirt." |
Alex: "What soccer clubs (teams) do you most recommend to develop into a world star player."
Agent: "Manchester United, Liverpool a lot of clubs now have Academy’s." |
Paul Ryding: "I'm interested to know how general transfer lists work. Is it like a list of all the players transfer listed gets faxed to each club every Monday?"
Agent: "Not every Monday morning, but when a club wants to sell a player they do fax other clubs. There is no official list, listed somewhere, perhaps there should be." |
Andrew Cox: "Do you feel the role of a players agent will become more important in the near future, because of increased player 'power/freedom' in contract talks?"
Agent: "Yes the stakes are getting higher and players need all the help they can get." |
Unknown: "Is it true your client Mass Sarr asked to see a Witch doctor whilst injured at Reading? And was he on the supposedly £6k a week that was mooted on the terraces?"
Agent: "I asked him about that and he laughed, your way out with the £6K a week, and when he hurt his knee, he asked to go home to recup, not to see the local witch doctor! ;-)" |
Tim Gils: "Do some players in England think Holland is a good country with a good league?"
Agent: "There is only one current international player, who is playing in Holland, so that tells you alot." |
Daniel Aldridge: "If there was a scout around how would I get his attention during the game?"
Agent: "Play out of your skin, chase every ball, never stand still." |
Roger: "Are agents usually behind the transfer gossip constantly present in the press? Why else are they there?"
Agent: "Agents are not allowed to speak to the press about a player in contract with a club, without the clubs permission." |
Chris Wilson: "How do you become an agent normally and what qualification do you need?"
Agent: "Look at the other replies." |
Anna Lee: "I am a 26-year-old woman from Newcastle who is taking the Fifa player's agents exams in March 2002. What should I concentrate on in my revision, and what type of questions are asked?"
Agent: "What are the four types of contracts? When is Training compensation due? Who is a member or FIFA? Questions can be from any of the FIFA and FA rules." |
Darren James: "Do you think English clubs should not be to reluctant to pay the crazy prices that the Italian and Spanish teams pay for the world class players?"
Agent: "Yes, I believe within two years the highest transfer fee will go, because of the cost of running a club. Every now and again there will be one, but there are lots of free transfer players out there. You will find clubs sell players cheap, when they are in the last year of their contract like what has happened at Nottingham Forest this year." |
António Ferrão: "For a 15-year-old central defender from Portugal, is it possible to get into a Premiership club? My wish is to develop into a quality player and I could use your help?"
Agent: "FIFA rules state that you have to be 17 to move countries unless your parents move for work purposes. So keep playing where you are and try to get some extra coaching." |
Lee: "Becoming a manager is a dream for all football fans, is it true you need to be an ex-professional football player to become one? If not, what qualifications do you need to become one?"
Agent: "Good point, many managers have no qualifications at all and solely rely on their playing reputation to get them a job, this is perhaps why we see so many managers changing job. The FA, UEFA and FIFA all run courses, I would recommend getting on them, then start with a local team and work up, but some teams will always give a managers job to top players." |
Leon Farr: "How do you become a football agent?"
Agent: "Please read the other replies, but contact your local FA, or buy my book when it comes out! ;-)" |
Florian Brandl: "I need a club in the UK. I`m a non-league player from Germany. What`s the best way to try?"
Agent: "It’s going to be very hard, I would suggest getting into a club in your own country first, then get noticed, then try to move." |
Marc Ayres: "How do I go about getting trials with football clubs?"
Agent: "Contact each club and ask them, or get an agent to do this for you. Some clubs get over 100 applications a week." |
Roy Kenneth Larsson: "If I have been on a trial in England before, how easy is it to get another trial, with another club?"
Agent: "Very hard, there are players out there who can play for their country, but can not get a team in England." |
Sunil Anthony Jogie: "Hi, I'm a 24 yr old amateur player... extremely fit, great dribbler, tremendous speed and of fine technical ability. I turned down scholarship offers a couple of years ago (quite regretably), and now I was wondering if there any chance of someone like me getting a screening opportunity with a European club. I ask this question knowing the fact that I have never represented my national team (they have no facilities in place for someone like me to show my talent). Please give me your opinion."
Agent: "There is a lot of competition, get yourself a local agent who can help, or get an agent in the country where you want to play." |
Stephen Tamburrino: "What college or university classes are recommended for someone interested in becoming a player agent?"
Agent: "I would read the other replies for such information." |
Timur Gozoglu: "Have you any information of players of Galatasaray, or have you worked with players from Galatasaray in the past? Thanks in advance."
Agent: "No sorry. Never had dealings with them." |
Scott Rae: "Do you feel that agents could do more to safeguard the future of young players? Will you encourage an early transfer, regardless of the long term interests of the player both financially and career wise?"
Agent: "FIFA encourage 5 years deals for players under 27 to try to safeguard players." |
Roger Östlund: "In a "normal" £1M transfer fee deal, how much will a player get and how much will an agent get?"
Agent: "None, the transfer fee is nothing to do with the player. He get nothing unless he has a clause in his contract." |
Antonio Fletcher: "I`m a law student that would like to become an agent?"
Agent: "The rule, there are two sets of rules, to get your license you must sit a test on these rules, as well as have no criminal record, etc..." |
Lee Rodbourne: "Although there are plenty of younger players playing in the English league now at present, but with all the big clubs buying foreign players, what does the future hold for all the young and talented players coming through, I dont believe its fair! For e.g David beckham came through the Man Utd`s youth, but if the clubs keep ignoring the younger players, we will never see the next Beckham, Scholes, Neville`s etc..."
Agent: "Excellent point, we will always see the Beckhams, because the cream always rises to the top, (if they have got a good agent ;-) that is). But you can’t blame clubs for signing players who are equally as good but willing to play for less. Also unfortunately we Brits are very reluctant to play abroad." |
James Evans: "How did you become a football agent?"
Agent: "I think I’m going to write a book, I get asked this question 20 times a day!" |
Keegan Knowles: "Is it important to have an agent? Do clubs care?"
Agent: "Of course I am going to say yes, but an agent can usually get a player a better deal." |
J. Campbell: "Are Spurs signing Ricketts?"
Agent: "I haven’t heard that one, I don’t think he would suit their type of play, he is best suited to playing in a defensive team that plays the ball up to him. Spurs are an attacking team." |
Nick Shield: "How did you get into being an agent?"
Agent: "Simply, I applied to be one through FIFA, that is it, no training nothing." |
Stian Jørgensen: "How much does it cost to get your licence?"
Agent: "Either a £30,000 security bond or insurance, plus you wont earn anything for the first 12 months, apart from that nothing." |
Shahril Izwan, Malaysia: "The criteria to be a player's agent and is worth it?"
Agent: "Its a lot of hard work, not just playing golf with top players and driving around in a Porsche. Your local FA is the best people to ask about applying." |
Wasim: "How long does it take for a work permit to come through?"
Agent: "It usually take two weeks." |
Asif: "What are the new transfer rulings?"
Agent: "It is very complete for players moving from one country to another, with teams who train a player from the age of 12 getting a percentage of any transfer fee, upto the age of 23, see FIFA’s web page for full listings." (Fifa.com) |
Charles Kofi, Ghana: "What are the chances of me finding a club in England, it is my dream to play there."
Agent: "It is also the dream of many English players to find a professional club here, that is why the government have installed strict rule concerning this. You must have played at least 75% of your country full international games, then to be granted a work permit, the panel will determine if you would benefit the English league, usually you have to play for a international team, that is in the top 60, FIFA ranking." |