This article is posted in the hope that it provides athletes with a way to more accurately assess the skills of an offer from various types of agents.

For example, anyone doing any research on me will quickly see that I have a strong background in the law, so one would expect my skills to be strong apropos contracts, negotiation, drafting, professionalism and presentation.  But does that make me a good agent?  Is the agent who is a former player without as much formal education and experience necessarily a weaker negotiator than me? Is he less well-versed in the nuances of contract law?  Can he pick out a future star as well as me simply because he has played professionally for many years?  Am I any less able to find the diamond in the rough simply because I spent my formative working years in Court rather than on the rainy, muddy and wind-swept soccer pitches of England?

I will readily concede that one of my weaknesses on which I have worked very hard is identifying young players who may have what it takes to play professionally at some point in the future.  Unearthing young talent is a key component of any agent’s practice.  But there is a vast difference between noticing a player who is playing well in that game and in spotting someone who has the raw materials and can go on to forge a career.  When coupled with the myriad factors involved in making it professionally then, this can suddenly seem a daunting task.

My solutions have been two-fold.  Firstly, there is no substitute for actually getting out there and watching as many games as possible.  DVDs only take one so far.  Being present during the game is vital.  The more games one watches, with one’s agent hat on rather than punter, the more I have been able to build up an accurate picture of youth soccer and, over time, been able to make more accurate and informed judgments on players.

Secondly, being humble enough to ask the opinion of others – namely, coaches.  My company currently represents a number of coaches, some of whom are experts in youth development.  I have done a good job for them in the past and they are delighted to receive DVDs of players on whom I would like their feedback.  It can really mean the difference between investing time and resources into a player who may never make it and, on the other side of that chain of reasoning, between having a reliable and experienced 2^nd opinion to back up my own thoughts on the player.

So, what can a former player who is now acting as an agent offer?  You can expect him to have a lot more contacts earlier on his career than someone like me who had to build everything up from the bottom over a period of time.  He may or may not have the same presentation skills and may place less emphasis on the quality of the written work.  He will most likely have greater access to better young players earlier on due to the fact he has just finished his playing career and is making the transition from playing to representation, so if you’re an unknown young player then he may already have a complete portfolio of young players and be less willing to take a chance on you.  Whilst there is the prestige of being represented by a former big name, does this mean that you will get the personal touch you as a player want and deserve?  Equally, there is no guarantee that someone without a playing background will give you the requisite attention.

I’ve had players come to me from other agents with stories about what took place which led to them leaving.  I have no doubt that the player is telling the truth and, equally, that the other agent was doing his job properly and professionally but it didn’t work out based on a number of factors…but mainly chemistry.  What works for one player and one agent may not be appropriate for the agent and the second player.  Likewise, I’ve had 1 or 2 of my clients ask if they could leave the agency or speak to other agents.  There is never bad blood, because as much as this is a personal relationship based on trust, it’s also a business deal and there’s no sense in preventing a client from looking elsewhere.

For me, the absolute bottom line is chemistry with my clients.  If we’re not getting along well, then I will have no hesitation in terminating the contract and allowing both parties to walk away.  I love this game too much, and am deeply fortunate to be able to earn a living doing something I love, to allow it to be hindered by a client with an attitude problem.  If it’s not working out, as sometimes happens, then there’s nothing wrong with walking away.  Neither party should be unhappy when the excitement of building a successful career together can be incredibly fulfilling.

In summary, I would say that there are really no sure things and perhaps this article has achieved the opposite of what I set out to accomplish – to pose more questions than provide answers!  But I hope it’s helped somebody, somewhere, if they are weighing up which type of agent to appoint.

Max Eppel is a soccer Players’ Agent Licensed by The FA. His company is Max Eppel Soccer Agency LLC and has offices in Newport Beach, CA and London, UK.  For further information click on www.maxeppelsocceragency.com.

Identifying the Strengths and Weaknesses of an Agent from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

The supportive feedback does not need to be examined here as it is trite at this stage; I would not seek to subject the readers to an article written by myself praising myself.  I am confident enough in what I do and how I do it to accept that there will be detractors as well as those who will encourage.

The people who questioned my last article did so on the basis that they were concerned I was revealing too many “trade secrets” and that the methods I have used to build up my company should not necessarily be divulged to the general public or any other aspiring Agents thus enabling them to become competition in due course.  I do not subscribe to this way of thinking at all – I received help getting into this world (I have yet to see it be done without some kind of assistance whether it be personal, financial or professional) and if I can give something back to those who follow me on this path of the sport I love then I am more than happy to oblige.

One of the more prevalent words I have heard used to describe the world of soccer agency is “murky“.  But what does this really mean in the context of my industry? To me, it has clear connotations of bungs (illegal payments), brown paper envelopes stuffed full of cash, muttered conversations in discreet locations and generally immoral and, perhaps, illegal behavior.

Allow me to address the underlying issues here.  Undoubtedly, the field of athletic representation has been tainted by such actions; to suggest otherwise would be disingenuous at best and plain wrong at worst.  Hardly a year goes by without a high-profile participant being shown to have acted improperly.  The purpose of this article is not some kind of plaintive defense in favor of Agents.  Rather, my aim is to clarify exactly what Agents do, why we do it and perhaps shed some light to a skeptical public.  I also do not intend to set myself apart from my fellow Agents nor make disparaging remarks about them.  We are all in this together.

To take a step back, I decided to draw on my experience at the Bar in England.  Here, from the outside, is one of the world’s most respected professions, one predicated on honor, respect and fearlessly fighting for one’s clients’ rights.  It is rare indeed to see a “murky” Barrister (lawyer) and yet I recall that not so long ago one Barrister was in the Court of Appeal on the Monday arguing a complex case in front of 3 Judges and on the Tuesday he had been remanded in custody at the Old Bailey on charges for possession and intent to supply of a substantial amount of a controlled narcotic.  He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a prison term.  This was considered to have been one of the largest scandals to have hit the Bar in hundreds of years.  Murky? You decide.

On an even wider scale, one need only examine the goings-on at Watergate, BCCI and Enron to see that “murkiness” permeates all aspects of society.  The simple fact is that where there is money there is greed.  And there is a lot of money in soccer.  Perhaps not so much in US soccer at present, but it is growing all the time.

I also believe that people do not enter into such arrangements actively seeking to do wrong.  They are trying to do the best they can with what they have in front of them but the results do not always reflect this point.

Furthermore, I am a firm believer that Agents, good Agents, have a pivotal role to play in soccer.  Soccer’s origins are as an amateur sport.  However, as early as 1885 Blackburn Rovers FC had spent £615.00 on their entire squad’s wages after having registered as a professional club.  Their top players were being paid £1.00 a week which was a huge amount for those days and caused an outcry. From 1919 to 1960 soccer players in England were forced to accept a maximum wage.  It was not until the threat of strike that this harsh restriction was lifted.  Since then, wages have soared exponentially and this is where the worth of a true Agent comes into play by ensuring that their client gets remunerated accordingly and, more importantly, protected as far as possible from the whims of the club.  Players have forever been at the mercy at their clubs regardless of their profile, status or salary.  If a club wants to keep hold of the player then it will do so; one need only look at the Manchester United FC/Cristiano Ronaldo/Real Madrid tug-of-war this summer for proof.  Likewise, if a club wants to get rid of a player it will do so whether it is for budgetary or athletic reasons.  And this was the basis of Sepp Blatter’s rather ill-chosen ‘slavery’ comments regarding modern soccer players.  All of this provides a lot of uncertainty for the player who will look to his Agent to suggest creative clauses be inserted into the contract to provide as much protection and stability as possible.

One of the first things I tell my prospective clients is that unless they are as certain as they can be at that stage that I am the best man for the job of furthering their career then they should look elsewhere for representation.  They get total commitment from me and I expect the same from them in return.  I do not make vapid promises about massive salaries, vast endorsement deals and worldwide fame because the truth is that most players will not scale these heights.  I believe that my job is to provide sensible advice predicated on experience of the current market trends.  It is essentially a sales job – I am selling my skills, contacts, nous and expertise to the client whilst at the same time marketing him to suitable clubs and garnishing a percentage of his earnings from the contract I negotiate on his behalf.  There’s nothing “murky” about that and it is almost exactly the same principle as recruitment agents use.

Soccer is, in actuality, a fiercely regulated industry both in terms of Agents and clubs.  The problems, I feel, stem from such regulations not being applied, known, or simply being ignored.  Every Agent, prior to receiving his License, is obligated to sign a Code of Conduct which sets out his duties; to study for and pass the exams which require a detailed knowledge of the law governing soccer and to obtain professional indemnity insurance.  Now, it’s one thing to know the rules, to sign such a document, set up the insurance policy, and another thing altogether to adhere to their tenets.  What I have seen happen more and more recently is that Agents are becoming more culpable for their actions and hence the degree of care required to act in accordance with the Regulations is higher…far more so.  One need only check FIFA’s website to see instances of Agents being punished for doing things that only 2 years ago were considered acceptable; and this goes back to an earlier point that I don’t feel most Agents set out to act improperly but are simply caught out by a mistake and this can happen to anyone in any field of work. My advice to any aspiring Agents is to compare and contrast the English FA’s Football Agents Regulations pre-2007 to the 1^st September 2007 version to see the differences.  This is a further point to note – most of the applicants I get contacting me regarding possible internships or employment opportunities have little or no understanding of the framework governing soccer Agents. It’s the first thing I ask them and there is usually a pregnant pause before they admit to not having looked at them; this is how mistakes are made – not knowing the rules or, just as bad, not knowing where to look up the answer to a potential issue.  Of course, soccer being in the limelight ensures that any mistakes that are made are highlighted and make an already bad press even worse.

I imagine that every Agent will have a different approach to getting the job done and it is important to note that what works for one client with one Agent and one particular club may not work under different circumstances. There are so many what I call “human elements” involved in constructing a deal that the degree of certainty changes all the time.

It is undoubtedly a highly competitive field but you show me something worth doing that is not so.  What carries me through is my passion for the sport and a genuine belief that US soccer is inexorably on the rise.  To be a part of that is something I relish every day.

To conclude, I would hope that the above has achieved my goals of shedding some light on the work of Agents (although I can only speak from my own experience) and why things are done as they are done.  If I have been able to dispel even a small percentage of the perceived “murkiness” then I will be pleased.

Max Eppel is a soccer Players’ Agent Licensed by The FA (England). He owns and manages his own California-based company, Max Eppel Soccer Agency LLC. For more information please visit www.maxeppelsocceragency.com.

The Murky World of Soccer Agents, Debunking the Perception from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Football

• From $20k per year to $2 mil per year…quite a jump…especially when Starter is the endorser [Cowboys QB Tony Romo signs apparel endorsement deal].
• Name that sticks out to me: Alex Smith [NFL - Highest Player Salary Cap Numbers For 2008 Season - Top 25].
• Gain an endorsement and get to call yourself Chief Mayhem Officer at the same time?  Win-win situation [T.O. Is Chief Mayhem Officer].

Basketball

• A new Carnival of the NBA has been released.  Our story on Joel Bell and Michael Beasley is included [Carnival #60: The Brotherhood of the Traveling Blogs].
• A former Gator gets his contribution on [Gift from NBA's Mike Miller makes magazine list].
• Good times to represent a point guard [Points Made: Point Guards Today Can Dish and Swish].

Olympics

• Speedo took down a giant [Nike Pulls Out of Olympic Swimwear Battle].

Soccer

• An interview with our boy, Max Eppel [Agent Talks Soccer In America].

Baseball

• My hometown’s fans really need to start showing some support [Marlins rank last in attendance … again].
• You think the Marlins have anything to do with this? [MLB Will Pull in $6.4 Billion in 2008]

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Those are some of the most common questions that I receive by email, even though all of those queries have been answered on this blog and its accompanying Forum.  Yesterday, Sports Law Blog further backed my common answer, which is that there really is none at all.

The most successful agents have attended a variety of law schools.  Some are in the top tier, others you may have never heard of before.  A few have decent Sports Law programs while others do not even have a single Sports Law class (like my lovely UF Law).  See this list that I compiled with the help of our extensive database of interviews along with some additional research:

• Ben Dogra (CAA Football) – St. Louis University Law School
• Scott Boras (Boras Corp) – McGeorge School of Law
• Arn Tellem (WMG) – University of Michigan Law School
• Drew Rosenhaus (Rosenhaus Sports) – Duke University School of Law
• Paul Sheehy (Pro Star) - Whittier College School of Law
• Rick Walden (Dishon & Walden) - University of Texas at Austin School of Law
• Steve Kauffman (Kauffman Sports Management) - University of Pennsylvania Law School
• Mark Steinberg (IMG Golf) - University of Illinois College Of Law
• Steve Herz (IF Management) – Vanderbilt University School of Law
• David Canter (DEC Management) - University Of Miami School Of Law
• Kevin Gold (Longsnap.com) - Widener University School of Law
• Scott Casanover (MAC Sports & Entertainment) - Washington University School of Law
• Peter Webb (Gaylord Sports Management) - New York Law School
• Jim Kuzmich (GAAMES) - University of Oklahoma-College of Law
• Max Eppel (MESA) - Court School of Law (England)
• Leigh Steinberg – UC Berkeley Boalt School of Law
• David Falk – George Washington University Law School
• Rob Pelinka - University of Michigan Law School
• Tom Condon (CAA Football) - University of Baltimore Law School
• Eugene Parker (Maximum Sports) – Valparaiso University School of Law

Which Law School Breeds Success? from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

This was an extremely productive Transfer Window for all the obvious reasons but also because it greatly assisted in increasing the exposure of my company, Max Eppel Soccer Agency LLC (“MESA”), via the acquisition of new players.  This was an unexpected bonus (purely because my marketing/PR was necessarily placed on hold during the Transfer Window due to time constraints) but one which any Agent will appreciate because it shows that all the hard work really pays off.  Watching the company grow is one of the most rewarding aspects of the job. Please click on www.maxeppelsocceragency.com for more information on MESA.

On the same point, I would like to thank Darren and www.SportsAgentBlog.com because the 2 particular players that signed with MESA during this Transfer Window discovered my company through my previous contributions to this website.

The actual logistics of a day in my life during the Transfer Window are as follows.  A usual day begins at 5.00am PST wherein I make a cup of tea with tea bags specially brought over from England (even though I’ve been in the USA for just over 2 years and enjoy almost every aspect of American living I’m afraid I’ll never be converted to coffee!).  Once I’ve reviewed the previous day’s notes I ensure that I’m ready to go for 6.00am PST which is when the East coast soccer clubs begin their working days and is just after lunch in Europe.  I also remind myself before each call or email that these Directors of Soccer, Head Coaches and General Managers (“decision-makers”) are extremely busy people.  They will be totally inundated with calls from players, scouts and Agents at this time of year, as well as having to review hundreds, possibly even thousands, of Resumes and DVD’s.  It is important to get the presentation correct.  Be succinct, courteous and enthusiastic whether on the phone or via email.  A degree of persistence is necessary here as it is relatively rare to actually get hold of these people straight away.  Chasing the decision-makers is a major part of the Agent’s job and to take “rejection” personally is fatal.  I have a particularly thick skin which was honed through several years of representing clients in Court in England during my legal career – I had no idea at the time that making complicated legal arguments in front of a Judge would stand me in such good stead in the future.

Once the relationships have been developed between Agent and club it becomes a whole lot easier as the club begins to call you on the back of previous successful placements of players but this only comes with time and it can’t be expected from the outset.

Once I have spoken to the relevant decision-maker and he identifies to me what type of player the club is searching for my job is to then send them appropriate Resumes with DVDs wherever possible.  A degree of judgment now becomes necessary.  There is no point, generally speaking, sending the club players who have not yet played to a high enough standard as they simply won’t be selected and my reputation suffers.  The other side of that dialectic is not to send them players who are already playing at a higher level than that particular club because more often than not the player will not want to sign a contract.  Remember, an Agent’s job is to always act in the best interests of his client.  This must be balanced with establishing a solid working relationship with the decision-makers – not always an easy task.

I can’t be certain without checking how many calls are made and emails sent out per day during the Transfer Window but it’s probably well over 100.  What is exciting is that one never knows which call or email will be the start of the process that clinches the next deal.  There is nothing more rewarding than watching the deal take shape, especially for a dedicated soccer man such as myself.

Once the decision-maker has received the Resumes and DVDs it is then a question of giving them a reasonable amount of time to review the contents and then chasing politely but firmly until a response is given.  This is an important part of the deal-making process.  One doesn’t want to come across as too pushy, but again, it has to be balanced with the fact that a major part of an Agent’s job is to place players at clubs.

If there is interest in the player it then becomes a question of deciding whether the player is good enough to sign a contract with the club immediately or, as is more common, he is invited for a trial.  Once the preliminaries are completed it is then down to the player to perform well during the trial which is of course something the Agent has absolutely no control over.  One thing to be aware of is that not every player will necessarily want to go to every club to which a trial has been arranged on his behalf.  It is crucial to check with your player before undertaking all the work or run the risk of looking unprofessional to the club and indeed your own player by arranging a needless trial.  Whether the trial goes well or not, you will be hearing about it.  If it goes well, the negotiations begin and terms are agreed prior to signing the contract.  If it is unsuccessful, well, it’s straight on to the next one.

By now the day has grown long and most days during the Transfer Window I didn’t move from my desk until 11:00pm on the basis that the daily administrative duties have to be carried out.  Taking careful notes on every phone call made or received, as well as each email sent or received, is a very important, and time-consuming, part of the job and something which I have learned from being a lawyer for over 6 years.  Ultimately, it saves time, though.  I have a file on every club and player with which I deal to ensure that both I and MESA are able to provide the best possible service to all parties.

To sum up – the days are long, with the emotional highs and lows in full swing.  I take my job very seriously in terms of professionalism; this includes staying in regular touch with my players as the deals progress.  For any aspiring Agents out there – remember that you have the players’ careers in your hands and this is not a responsibility to be taken lightly.  The most rewarding part of a long day’s work is knowing that I have acted diligently on my clients’ behalves and that I am doing everything in my power to ensure their careers progress accordingly.  When a deal gets signed off I can assure you that the feeling is worth all the hard work.  I don’t recommend getting into this profession unless you share a passion for the sport which serves as a bridge to success.

Max Eppel is a soccer Players’ Agent Licensed by The FA (England). He owns and manages his own California-based company, Max Eppel Soccer Agency LLC. For more information please visit www.maxeppelsocceragency.com.

The Life Of A Soccer Agent During The Transfer Window from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

Here in the USA, the MLS mid-season Transfer Window is rapidly approaching and I have been busy preparing for what always promises to be a hectic schedule. The Window is open from June 15^th – August 15^th.

In terms of what an Agent does immediately preceding this time, I can of course only speak from my own experience. Here is an overview:

• Confirm that all the Representation Agreements between Agent and player are up-to-date.
• Speak to the players and ensure they are happy where they are, or, if there are grievances, listen carefully and present them with realistic career advice.
• Ensure that all Resumes are current. If not, obtain the relevant statistics and add them to the document. Nothing looks worse than presenting a club with a Resume and then not knowing, for example, how many games one’s client has played this season, or how many goals he has scored.
• Make certain that all the DVD’s are readable and that any links to YouTube, etc., are correct.

Relating back to the technology point made above, one of the biggest and most beneficial changes I have noticed in my time as an Agent is soccer’s increasing willingness to embrace new ways of making the placement process more accurate and more efficient. By accurate, I mean that clubs no longer have to rely on making a judgment based purely on the examination of a player’s physical and sporting statistics included in his Resume and then invite him for a trial or even sign him only to discover that he perhaps was not quite the player they supposed him to be. And as to efficiency – I mean that with the advent of the internet and email there are now so many ways to get a DVD or video clip in front of a Chief Scout or Manager in hardly any time at all. Only last year, I was mailing DVD’s all around the world. This year I have uploaded most of the video clips onto a central website, and from there I can burn DVD’s and deliver them to the clubs almost immediately or send them the password and login information and they can view it for themselves instantly.

Several clubs with whom I deal will not look at a player without video footage, as they simply don’t want to take the risk. Because of this, it is very important to ensure one’s DVD library is current and well-stocked.

Technology adds a much-welcomed element to what used to be a laborious process. It can certainly add a frenetic element to being an Agent, but then, if you’re not willing to have such pressures in your work life you shouldn’t consider becoming an Agent!

Max Eppel is a soccer Players’ Agent Licensed by The FA. He runs his own California-based company, Max Eppel Soccer Agency LLC. For more information please visit www.maxeppelsocceragency.com.

Preparing For The MLS Mid-Season from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

• Look forward to VitaminWater commercials featuring LeBron James and Purple Jesus [Coca Cola Switches Drinks On Lebron, Adds Adrian Peterson].
• JaVale McGee, a standout Sophomore center from Nevada, is no longer a collegiate athlete after signing Roosevelt Barnes to represent him in this summer’s NBA Draft [Breaking News: JaVale McGee Enters Draft, Hires Agent Roosevelt Barnes].
• While I was getting a nice tan during Spring Break, Chad Burkart was busy covering the IMG World Congress of Sport in California [7th Annual IMG World Congress of Sport Conference hits the West Coast].
• Ricky Williams, Edgerrin James, and Troy Polamalu rejoice: You are allowed to rock your long dreds outside of your helmet for at least another year [Hair length proposal delayed until May; defensive helmet radios approved].
• Leigh Steinberg continues on his mission to make sports green. He is now working on forming a project called the Sporting Green Alliance [Mega-agent wants whole sports world to go 'green'].
• Is Canseco going after A-Rod in his new book because A-Rod would not leave Boras to join Canseco when he was trying to start up as a sports agent? [Payback].
• Before Jenn Sterger became the famous Cowgirl, she wanted to be a sports agent [Jake (gladly) Takes on Jenn Sterger(FSU Cowgirl and Beautiful Rays fan)].

This week, we brought back one of our best columns: Interview With The Agent. Check out Samyr Laine’s interview with soccer agent, Max Eppel, by clicking on the Featured tab on the right sidebar.

Shabbat Shalom: Friday Wrap-Up from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules

with Samyr Laine

Agent: Max Eppel

Agency: Max Eppel Soccer Agency LLC

Questions:

1.) How did you get started in this industry?

I qualified in England as a barrister (Lawyer) in 2002 but knew that while it wasn’t going to be the career I ended up in it could be a means to an end. After about 4 or 5 years of practicing mainly civil/commercial law and having appeared in Court in well over 1,000 cases for my clients I figured it would be worthwhile to combine my knowledge of the law with a passion that I had; that being soccer. I then took it upon myself to qualify as a Players Agent Licensed by The FA, which is the Football Association of England.

2.) Did you attend law school or grad school? If so, which law school or grad school?

Yes, I attended the Inns of Court School of Law which is the most prestigious Bar school in England.

3.) Who was your first client (year, sport), and how did you recruit him?

I am unfortunately unable to give client names as per soccer regulations. In terms of recruiting, it was all about establishing links with other agents and scouts and approaching those players who aren’t yet signed and convincing them to sign. Also, listening to those players when they recommended friends of theirs who also play the game worked helped.

4.) How did you handle your first contract negotiation?

First, being a lawyer helped with all of that. I spoke to the client first and between the two of us we agreed, following my advice, on a top and bottom line in terms of desired salary and other bonuses. I also did a lot of research on similar players and similar clubs which helped a lot and added weight in the whole negotiation process.

5.) What is the most important aspect of being a sports agent?

You’ve got to be honest, fair and firm so that there can be some longevity in the business you do with the players, clubs and franchises. Also, it’s vital to always remember that you’ve got to be acting in your client’s best interest.

6.) At what age do you feel an agent with hit his prime/glory years? Why?

It’s not necessarily a question of age and has more to do with luck, tenacity and your clients achieving their potential. You could luck out and find a Ronaldinho at age 29 or work hard for 3 or more years before making a breakthrough. It’s more usual to have to work extremely hard for the first few years to develop a strong portfolio of players as well as making oneself known to the soccer clubs so that a relationship is developed between us. Eventually, they start calling you for players which is a great position to be in.

7.) What is your opinion of “larger” agencies with less attention to their clients compared to “smaller” agencies who counsel more with their clients?

I can’t really say that other agents and agencies pay less attention to their clients. But I do agree that it’s important to give the client as much care and attention as possible which is why my business plan is to remain small (small meaning, niche/boutique rather than undersized).

8.) Where do you see the athlete representation industry going in 10 years?

Specific to soccer, I’d like to see more young professionals entering the profession. It might help, in my view, to clean up the image. Soccer agents now have a lot of bad press and new, young professionals entering the field could help provide a cleaner image and perhaps more accountability.

9.) Take our readers through a typical day in your life.

It varies depending on the time of the year. Soccer has two main international ‘transfer windows’; May/June through August and the month of January. Those times are especially chaotic as you’re constantly on the phone and most importantly doing a lot of negotiating to set up the deals.

A normal day outside of those times means two main things: marketing and scouting. During this time it’s very important to keep one’s momentum going. By marketing I mean getting out there, getting to know the people and getting in front of as many sporting institutions as possible. You can’t just sit back and expect work to come so my goal is to get my name out there and become one of the best agencies in CA.

In terms of scouting you don’t want to pass up opportunities that may be out there so I attempt to catch at least 3 soccer games a week, sometimes up to 5. I save some time and the expenses of travelling by utilizing my network of scouts and other agents to scout outside of the California area.

10.) What advice do you have for people looking to break into the industry?

My advice is to have a strong professional and/or athletic background. You’ve also got to understand that the main point of the job of an agent, once again, is to act on behalf of the client and their best interests. Finally, you have to be tenacious and if you really think this is the career for you, pursue it 100%

11.) Does your agency provide internships for people looking to break
into the industry?

Yes, the next application window isn’t until November of this year though. If interested you can send an email to info@maxeppelsocceragency.com.

12.) If you could do one thing to renovate the Sports Agent industry, what would it be and how would you go about accomplishing that goal?

On my earlier point of getting young professionals into the industry; I would make a push to help that happen.

Also, what most people don’t see is that the vast majority of agents are extremely hard working, honest and ethical. We deal with so many human factors in trying to construct a deal, you might only see the tip of the iceberg when reading about the deals done in the press/media as they can seems as if they just happen. What most don’t see is that constructing a particular deal takes a lot of time and effort, with some setbacks along the way. That includes dealing with coaches, managers, and sometimes other agents. It can be frustrating but also incredibly rewarding when it does come off. Making people aware of the realities of the industry would help a lot as well.

13.) What are some of the things an agent can offer their clients besides the negotiation of contracts, getting endorsements, and others along those lines?

I actually don’t view that (negotiating and getting endorsements) as the main part of the job. For me it’s about developing a relationship and rapport with the client and even their family sometimes. If they trust me then things in the relationship flow a lot easier. Developing that strong relationship is about being professional, courteous, respectful, and attentive. You’ve got to make clients understand that you’re working on their behalf and not the other way around. A prime example of that is just returning calls and emails because you’d be surprised about how little of that goes on.

I also want to give something back to the game. I coach an amateur team and in time my agency will provide cash scholarships to underprivileged children to get into the game. One of the major criticisms of soccer agents is that we’re taking money out of the game so my way of getting around that is to give back. I can’t be criticized for taking money out of the game if I’m reinvesting back into it.

14.) Are there some notable differences between agents representing athletes in the Big 4 of US sports and soccer agents?

I can’t really speak on the differences between agents in the two realms. That being said, I would love to see soccer become America’s 5^th major sport. The role of soccer agents is going to be pivotal in that. There is no doubt that the game has come a long way here and with America as one of the proudest sporting nations in the world I would relish the chance to be at the forefront of a soccer renaissance here.

15.) Is it difficult to run a truly international agency with many of your clients being overseas?

Soccer is truly a global game and I feel the nature of the industry reflects that. With the US sports you’ve got all the best athletes in the world playing here but unfortunately the US isn’t the first destination people have in mind when attempting to play professional soccer. They tend to look at England, Spain and Italy first, but I came here because I realized that there was a real opportunity to make soccer at least on the same level with the rest of the big 4.

16.) Finally, do you have any thoughts on improving the game of soccer in the US and its popularity?

I can say that the game is heading in the right direction here as it is. MLS leadership is very upwardly mobile and committed and they’re working hard to ensure a very professional game here as well as constantly looking at new ways to increase the league’s competitiveness. It’s not going to happen overnight but extremely positive changes are being made right now. An example is the recently implemented “Designated Player Rule,” also dubbed the‘Beckham Rule’ which should help to attract further top players. There is also huge interest from sponsors and from television now, with last season being the first season that every MLS game was shown on TV. It was also the first time that the league itself didn’t have to pay for coverage. Game attendance has also leveled out at this point and will doubtless increase as time goes on. I wouldn’t have come here if I didn’t think there was a lot of opportunity for growth. It is just going to require some input from professional agents and also from scouts, coaches and the teams and players themselves. I feel the future is getting brighter all the time for soccer in the USA and I’m very much enjoying the challenge of being out here as an agent.

Interview With The Agent: Max Eppel from Sports Agent Blog - Sports Business, Sports Law, Sports Negotiations, NCAA Rules