CAA Gets Kickin In Soccer
By Zak Kurtz | Saturday, Jul 19th, 2008 | | Vote for this at Yardbarker, BallHype,Categories: Recruiting, Soccer, Sports Business
In last week’s Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-up on SportsAgentBlog.com, Darren found an article that described the emergence of American soccer. The article talked how Los Angeles based Sports and Entertainment agency, CAA, recently announced a global partnership with Portuguese based agency, International Soccer Agency Gestifute. CAA and Gestifute will combine to form a global community of the best soccer players and coaches in the world. Gestifute and now CAA represent clients such as Christiano Ronaldo of Manchester United and head coach Jose Mourinho of Inter Milan. Ronaldo was the 2007/08 FIFA World Player of the Year, while Mourinho was awarded the Coach of the Year.
CAA only recently jumped into the field of representing soccer players in 2007, when David Beckham came to the U.S. CAA was in association with Beckham’s Manager, Simon Fuller, and was in charge of international marketing for Beckham. Since Beckham came to CAA, one of the English Premiere Leagues top teams, Chelsea FC, has also become a CAA client. Chelsea and others are looking to break into the growing American soccer scene.
Gestifute was founded in 1996 by FIFA agent Jorge Mendes. Mendes is now in charge of the many high profile clients and coaches. He is looking to find the talented youth players in Europe and is now expanding to America. Gestifute also represents player and coaches like Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea/Portuguese National team), Anderson (Manchester United/Brazilian National Team), Nani (Manchester United/Portuguese National Team), Deco (Chelsea FC/Portuguese National Team), Ricardo Quaresma (FC Porto/ Portuguese National Team), and 2002 World Cup-winning head coach Luiz Felipe Scolari (Chelsea FC).
This is a great thing for American soccer players and fans. It shows that American soccer is finally accepted overseas and that foreign teams are looking for talented American soccer players. Soccer is seen as a global sport that has been played all over the world for centuries, but America seemed to be late in catching on. Football, not Futbol, has been the sport Americans are known for around the world, but that is beginning to change. The emergence of Major League Soccer (MLS), an American soccer league, has now given domestic and foreign players an arena to play in. Many great Americans develop in the MLS and others are now playing at great clubs overseas (Beasley, McBride, Onyewu, Donovan did but went back to the MLS).
Before the last World Cup, the USA was ranked as high as 8th in the World. The USA is now ranked 30th in the world (as of the most current FIFA rankings last month), and many young US players are playing overseas. I witnessed this first hand as one of my Roanoke Star Premiere teammates, Danny Karbassiyoon, went abroad to London and played for Arsenal FC after high school. Danny was nasty and had the ability to play at any level, being one of the first American born players at Arsenal. He is now the head scout for Arsenal in the US.
The MLS may have salaries that are a lot less than foreign leagues, but the money will only increase as soccer grows in America. The EPL and other foreign leagues pay soccer players just as much as the NFL pays its players. It would certainly be worthwhile for American agencies to invest in soccer, however an agency would need international “connections” overseas to do so. The partnership between CAA, one of America’s leading sports/ entertainment agencies, and Gestifute might be the spark that ignites the fire.
The merger between CAA and Gestifute proves to solidify the statement that American soccer is growing. The international community is now starting to recognize American players and accepting them and encouraging them to play internationally. With the arrival of Beckham, the MLS has picked up and gained fans and approval by other players. This merger is a great sign for soccer in America. I expect other American sports and entertainment agencies to add soccer to their sports divisions. It is not only marketable overseas, as Americans are catching on and the amount of talented American soccer players will only increase.
I AM A SOCCER PLAYER FROM NIGERIA,I AM 15YEARS OLD,TOP GOAL SCORER IN FOUR DIFFERENT FOUR LOCAL LEAQUE IN MY STATE.HERE IN NIGERIA,I AM LOOKING FOR AGENT THAT WILL HELP ME GET CLUB IN EUROPE.
Hi Adeniran, email me your details, I can pass this information onto Pini Zahavi whom I do some work for. However I do require a passport photocopy and date of birth certificate please. Feel free to email me on ksd52@hotmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kam
I AM A SOCCER PLAYER FROM NIGERIA,I AM 15YEARS OLD, IN NIGERIA,I AM LOOKING FOR AGENT THAT WILL HELP ME GET CLUB IN EUROPE.
I too am looking for representation. Played four years Division 1soccer in USA. Played in several games on a MLS reserve squad. Went to Europe and worked out with various teams in Germany but got to Germany after many of the teams were formed. After playing this summer in Germany I am more determined than ever to pursue soccer. I know I can play at that level.
Hey Erik, my name is Jimmy Gaul and am currently in the process of opening my own agency. Should have everything opened very soon and will be interested in you becomin a part of it. Email me some more information at classicdots1@aol.com, thank you look forwar to hearing from you.
Erik, how old are you? What club you played for? What position?
Eric, I do alot of work with a Zihavi. Email me at ksd52@hotmail.com. We have alot of links with division 1 and premier league clubs. look forward to hearing from you.
Hello,
My name is Prince Ayobamidele,a soccer administrator who owns a soccer academy in Nigeria,i have alot of young talented players in my academy that are ready for trails in abroad, am searching for an soccer agent/club to collaborate with or to give my players trial out to showcase their skill and place them on trial with any team of your choice and you will also be able to manage my players and get them clubs either in the amateur,semi professional or the professional level where they can grow in their skills and games.
Please i would like you to place these players where they can be guanratee of playing football and for them to know that they are in good hands.If you are searching for players that are very good,please dont hesitate to contact me.
I hope we can work together and make this relationship a successful one and creat a good atmosphere for other good players to follow and grow so that they can be great players in few years to come ….Email me on mageeco_united_fc01@yahoo.com or mageeco_united_fc@hotmail.com………
Regards
Prince Ayobamidele
+2348089752518
+2348064578252
darren, do you look at this as an opportunity for your agency or is this an example of someone who thinks they have the next david beckham when really these are no talent kids in nigeria?
At this point, I have no interest in creating a soccer division.
We need players and coaches right now , contact us if you are a good player or coach
email: recruitersport@yahoo.com
Hey, I am 22 years old. I was playing with the Chivas USA reserve squad for the whole summer before I left for Germany. I play either left fullback, or left midfield. I have a very strong left foot, am very technical with the ball, and have a very good shot and services.
i am highly impressed by the agency,s objective. services to the sports family. i dont know if opportunity will be giving to some of us from west africa( sports agency based in west africa) to partner with this vision. for example in my agency( princewill soccer agency) has aboundant of talents ( strong, fast, skillfull and well built soccer players that can be a model in the sporting world if giving adequate recognition and exposure.
i make this statement based on the fact i went true similar experience as an ex-professional soccer player i west africa, nigeria( presently coordinate this sports agency.
this is my mobile and email address when responding to my observation.
thanks,
george andrew,( director princewill sports soccer agency, west africa)
gabby4real44@yahoo.com
+234 8051383830
i am solomon eneko.i am from west africa.i am 19yrs old.i am a mid-field player with skill and very strong also the winner of the 2008 nigeria embassy cupin cote d’ ivoire.best mid-fielder of the tournament.please i will be very glad if you can give me the opportunity to come over for the trail i promise you will never regret it
thanks
solomon
my name is janet onimisi i am a football manager from nigeria, i own a football team in lagos which is registered with NFF(NFA). i normally take players to dubai,cambodia, qatar for trails i those countries. iam seaching for a team or clubs in MLS to collabrate to give my players to display thier talents and skills. if u can only permit this . i would be gratefull.thanks for your cooperation.pls write me in my e mail.
thanks janet onimisi
My Name is Tyrell Matthew Rusike& I am a young man of 18 who plays soccer for Zimbabwe’s top League team.I have played for the Zimbabwe under 17 and now play for Zimbabwe under 20s.
My position is an attacking midfielder and I have had trial stints in the UK & Greece.
I would like to get a chance to show my skills and play football in Europe & America.
I hold both Zimbabwean & South African Passports.
Please get in touch for further details
Regards Tyrell Matthew Rusike
I AM CELESTINE EBUNI NZEKWUE. I AM A NIGERIAN, I AM 17YRS OLD, I AM A WINGER, BOTH FOOTED AND CAN PLAY FROM BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT FLANK. I GOT GOOD SPEED, GREAT SKILLS AND GREAT EYE FOR GOAL. PLS I AM LOOKING FOR AN AGENT THAT CAN HELP ME GET A CULB IN AMERICA OR EUROPE, I AM BASE IN NIGERIA. PLS YOU CAN CONTACT ME BY EMAIL: ifynzekwue@yahoo.com,
OR CALL: +2348022477958.
PLS HELP ME, I HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU SOON. THANKS
I am 13 years old looking for an academy [nigeria/europe] . I’m a midfielder with vision, driblling skill and shot. please i need an academy. My number is 08083852734. Thank you.
My Name is Tyrell Matthew Rusike& I am a young man of 18 who plays soccer for Zimbabwe’s top League team.I have played for the Zimbabwe under 17 and now play for Zimbabwe under 20s.
My position is an attacking midfielder and I have had trial stints in the UK & Greece.
I would like to get a chance to show my skills and play football in Europe & America.
I hold both Zimbabwean & South African Passports.
Please get in touch for further details
Forgot to put e-mail address: philrusike@yahoo.com
Regards Tyrell Matthew Rusike
Italian professional soccer coach is searching for club.
Immediate availability in all countries.