Unlock the Secrets of Becoming a Licensed Football Agent

Back to the Beginning

On a cold November day in north London, we find ourselves at Wembley Stadium, getting ready to take the FIFA agent exam. There are 300 desks lined up in classic school exam style, each with two pieces of paper and a pen. We have one hour to answer 20 multiple-choice questions on various aspects of football agency, from sell-on clauses to dealing with minors. The £300 entry fee includes a bottle of water, but it also gives us a chance to pursue a career in the glamorous world of professional football.

There are approximately 7,000 licensed agents worldwide, and during the January transfer window, we'll be speaking to many of them to understand the inner workings of the industry. Some agents are driven by their own agendas, while others have the best interests of their clients at heart. Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson had a strong opinion about some agents, describing them as having an "imagination beyond belief" during negotiations.

Why Reintroduce the Agent Exam?

There have been concerns about unqualified agents in the football industry. Between 2015 and 2023, anyone in England could become an agent with no industry experience by paying £500 plus VAT. This led to a flood of unlicensed agents in the market. FIFA recognized this as a mistake and reintroduced the exam last year. Almost half of the 3,800 people who took the exam in April 2023 failed, highlighting the need for higher standards in the profession.

The new FIFA licence is designed to boost standards and raise the professional and ethical standards of the profession. From October last year, unlicensed agents were not allowed to work on transfers or negotiate contracts. However, there are about 900 "legacy" agents registered before 2015 who do not have to take the exam.

Dean Eldredge's Perspective

Dean Eldredge, who runs Oporto Sports and works exclusively with managers and coaches, passed the first exam in April 2023. He believes that while the exam is a positive step for the industry, it may not be relevant for everyone. Specializing in working with managers requires a different set of skills and knowledge.

"If the agents are good and the agency is well run, then they're essential to support that individual," Eldredge says. "The exam gives a minimum knowledge about the international transfer system, but it's just the first step."

‘Anxiety Levels Rising’ – Sitting the Exam

As the exam approaches, anxiety levels rise in the room. A stern notice from the chief invigilator outlines the rules and warns of FIFA disqualifying candidates. The exam is random to prevent cheating, and there have been cases of cheating worldwide. Candidates took mock exams to prepare, but some found them repetitive.

I chose to pay £120 for extra, broader questions from a website claiming a 97% pass rate. During the exam, I used the 686-page FIFA document, but it was challenging to fit all the sections on the small desk. I finished the 20 questions in 30 minutes and spent the remaining time checking and reviewing my answers. The relief was palpable when it was over.

One agent described the exam as "a lot of legalese" that was difficult to engage with. Another agent, who took the exam on his 40th birthday, said it was as nerve-wracking as any game he played. Despite the criticisms, the morning went smoothly compared to previous exams where the wi-fi failed.

‘All I Care About is My Child’ – Should Family Be Agents?

The 2015 deregulation allowed more family members to become intermediaries in football. Andy Lowe, the father of Stoke striker Nathan, was sitting the afternoon exam. He believes that a licensed agent can provide valuable advice to parents, but a parent should not be the agent directly.

"A trusted adviser is the best description of a good agent," Andy says. "But that can't be the parent. If you are the parent and the agent, it could cause difficulties." However, a sporting director at a top-level club dismissed suggestions that family members cause problems in negotiations.

A manager who played in the Premier League for 20 years accepts that agents are necessary but can be problematic. "The longer you are in it, you trust certain ones more than others," he says. "Sometimes the trust can go, but the agent provides a buffer in negotiations."

Pass or Fail? The Verdict…

A week later, an email from FIFA congratulated us on passing the exam. Brownhill and O'Connor also passed. Passing the exam is just the first step; it doesn't make us experts in football agency. We still have a lot to learn about negotiating contracts, handling transfer requests, and doing multi-million pound deals.

The profession of football agency is often misunderstood. Agents are easy targets, but there are good and bad operators in every industry. Passing the exam is not the end; it's just the beginning of a long journey in the world of football agency.