It’s one of the most lucrative jobs in football. We meet Aussie football’s deal makers who can turn footballers into millionaires in a couple of meetings. Just don’t call them “agents”...
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As FourFourTwo is shown inside a chic, second floor office situated a corner kick from Dwight Yorke’s old hangout, Hugo’s in Kings Cross, a jackhammer is rocking the building. But that’s not the only thing shaking this player-management office. News of an unfolding scandal in the UK – involving agents and alleged illegal payments (so-called “bungs”) to certain managers – is being watched intently by a group huddling around a laptop. The report claims its findings are “set to rock football”.
“Not a great time to be speaking with a journalist!” laughs Craig Nettelbeck as he gets up to offer a handshake.
Nettelbeck, 36, is one of around 21 FFA licensed football agents in Australia. Smartly dressed, well-spoken and unfailingly polite, the former Swans and Demons AFL star is about as far removed as you could get from the image of bungs and dodgy deals.
“I don’t like that term ‘agent’,” says Nettelbeck, whose company Rubicon merged with Richard Briggs’ Men’s Division player management group seven months ago. “I prefer the term ‘player manager’. We look after all aspects of players’ lives, not just contract negotiations, including areas such as players’ commercial deals and even savings plans.
“After a deal has gone through, we look to see that the player’s structures are in place. It’s a day-to day involvement.”
Nettelbeck became an FFA-accredited agent in 2001 and represents “over 10 players”, from retiring Socceroos such as Tony Popovic to several Hyundai A-League players. So, what does he think makes a good player manager?
“It’s about making contacts and establishing relationships with clubs and scouts and building a network of contacts around the world,” says Nettelbeck. “The game is so varied so you have to be across all that to best serve your clients. With most businesses, not just being an agent, it’s about having a personal connection. Obviously it takes a long time to build up.”
Nettelbeck adds that there’s no typical deal because there are so many variations. “Generally, it would depend on what level the player is at. So if he doesn’t have much big time experience, you’d be trying to find an opportunity for him. Then it comes down to your relationships with clubs to get him opportunities. You’re kind of proactive about that all throughout their careers though.
“If it’s an international player, it’s more a case of when an opportunity arises that you’re on top of it. That’s where you need to have relationships [with clubs]. They’ll have in-trays stacked high with info from agents… you need to have a direct contact within the club.”
He cites loyalty as being very important because “at times football is a game with so many opportunities that you need a relationship of trust”. Although he adds that’s not easy to establish initially.
“I’ve been honest with players and their families who have massive expectations for their sons. As a father I’d be the same. So, a dad says that little Johnny should be at Real Madrid, when really you know the best strategy is to develop him in the A-League and when he’s ready, maybe that might be a next step if he’s established in the national team. But sometimes that’s not what parents want to hear.
“That’s where honesty needs to come into play. Sometimes you’ll lose a client over that… but here’s no point in giving false hope.”
“Not a great time to be speaking with a journalist!” laughs Craig Nettelbeck as he gets up to offer a handshake.
Nettelbeck, 36, is one of around 21 FFA licensed football agents in Australia. Smartly dressed, well-spoken and unfailingly polite, the former Swans and Demons AFL star is about as far removed as you could get from the image of bungs and dodgy deals.
“I don’t like that term ‘agent’,” says Nettelbeck, whose company Rubicon merged with Richard Briggs’ Men’s Division player management group seven months ago. “I prefer the term ‘player manager’. We look after all aspects of players’ lives, not just contract negotiations, including areas such as players’ commercial deals and even savings plans.
“After a deal has gone through, we look to see that the player’s structures are in place. It’s a day-to day involvement.”
Nettelbeck became an FFA-accredited agent in 2001 and represents “over 10 players”, from retiring Socceroos such as Tony Popovic to several Hyundai A-League players. So, what does he think makes a good player manager?
“It’s about making contacts and establishing relationships with clubs and scouts and building a network of contacts around the world,” says Nettelbeck. “The game is so varied so you have to be across all that to best serve your clients. With most businesses, not just being an agent, it’s about having a personal connection. Obviously it takes a long time to build up.”
Nettelbeck adds that there’s no typical deal because there are so many variations. “Generally, it would depend on what level the player is at. So if he doesn’t have much big time experience, you’d be trying to find an opportunity for him. Then it comes down to your relationships with clubs to get him opportunities. You’re kind of proactive about that all throughout their careers though.
“If it’s an international player, it’s more a case of when an opportunity arises that you’re on top of it. That’s where you need to have relationships [with clubs]. They’ll have in-trays stacked high with info from agents… you need to have a direct contact within the club.”
He cites loyalty as being very important because “at times football is a game with so many opportunities that you need a relationship of trust”. Although he adds that’s not easy to establish initially.
“I’ve been honest with players and their families who have massive expectations for their sons. As a father I’d be the same. So, a dad says that little Johnny should be at Real Madrid, when really you know the best strategy is to develop him in the A-League and when he’s ready, maybe that might be a next step if he’s established in the national team. But sometimes that’s not what parents want to hear.
“That’s where honesty needs to come into play. Sometimes you’ll lose a client over that… but here’s no point in giving false hope.”
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