Jorge Mendes and the 25 Most Powerful Agents in Football
The football world is currently abuzz with the summer's work conducted by Jorge Mendes, the super-agent once again riding high after a busy summer transfer window.
Through an extensive network of player clients and others under his command, the Portuguese marketing figure has amassed a reputation as one of the most influential figures in the sport. This summer, Radamel Falcao and Angel Di Maria's moves to Manchester United will have earned the official a decent stash of spare change.
However, Mendes isn't the only string-pulling super-agent in the game, and many have more fingers in pies than their generally low profiles might suggest.
Numerous superstars are managed by family members and agencies as whole. However, for the purpose of this exploration, we've strived to uncover those individuals with the most market sway, whether it be due to quantity of clients or quality of those few whose careers they govern.
Third-party ownership is another factor that can confuse who actually represents a player, and those investment firms have largely been omitted to give as comprehensive a list as possible. A variety of the world's major agent powers have also been included for a broader spectrum of representatives.
As we'll find out delving deeper into the matter, agency and marketing in football are hardly ever as simple as one party merely talking with another. Some of the biggest figures in our list run and facilitate deals without having to lift as much as a finger, instead working through other means.
Contract information and agencies provided courtesy of Transfermarkt.
1. Volker Struth
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Acting as the main representative for Bundesliga agency giant SportsTotal, Volker Struth is a major player in and around the German top flight.
Marco Reus, Mario Gotze and Toni Kroos have all looked to Struth for guidance in getting their moves in recent years, leaving the agent as a more subtle influence among Europe's powerhouse teams.
Struth's SportsTotal stockpile also includes Sidney Sam, Benedikt Howedes and Stefan Reinartz.
Notable Clients: Marco Reus, Mario Gotze, Toni Kroos, Sidney Sam, Benedikt Howede
2. Jose Antonio Martin Otin
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Jose Antonio Martin Otin acts as founder and president of Bahia Internacional, but like many on this list, the former radio commentator doesn't allow his elevated position to stop him from getting his hands grubby.
First and foremost, the Spaniard is a businessman, and this summer saw client Fernando Torres finally get a move away from Chelsea, Otin dealing entirely with affairs involving players from his homeland.
Bahia Internacional houses some of Spain's biggest talents, and the country's rise back to prominence in recent years has been extremely good for business.
Notable Clients: Pedro, Javi Martinez, Fernando Torres, Jesus Navas, Asier Illarramendi, Ignacio Camacho, Nacho
3. Jerome Anderson
3 of 26There's little time for sentiment in the mind of any agent, but Jerome Anderson has developed a controversial reputation in England for his brokering of deals.
One particularly prevalent deal in this case came when John Obi Mikel reneged on a pre-contract agreement he held with Manchester United in 2006, going on to sign for Chelsea instead, a move overseen by Anderson.
As head of Sport, Entertainment and Media Group (SEM), Anderson holds business relations with the likes of Mikel, Zenit St. Petersburg's Axel Witsel and Kieran Gibbs of Arsenal.
Anderson's reputation is his biggest legacy, though, having once represented a host of Arsenal stars, including Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, prior to moving on to Manchester City and then Blackburn Rovers.
Notable Clients: Axel Witsel, John Obi Mikel, Kieran Gibbs
4. Jonathan Barnett
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Founder of Stellar Group Limited, Jonathan Barnett was at the heart of Gareth Bale's £85 million move from Tottenham to Real Madrid last summer, officially known as the biggest transfer move in history.
Before delving into football, Barnett became known for bringing Lennox Lewis into professional boxing before also being linked to the deal that saw Ashley Cole become a Chelsea player in 2006.
Barnett isn't the heaviest hitter in terms of client range, but Bale's deal alone sees him sitting around those reaping massive rewards from their dealings.
Notable Clients: Gareth Bale, Ashley Cole, Joe Hart, Wojciech Szczesny, Glen Johnson, Gylfi Sigurdsson
5. Alessandro Lucci
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Alessandro Lucci has been behind many major Serie A moves throughout the years, leading the Italian businessman to set up the World Soccer Agency (WSA).
His company pushed through deals including Mirko Vucinic's 2006 transfer from Lecce to Roma and then onto Juventus in 2011, as well as Juan Cuadrado's move to Fiorentina from Lecce two years ago.
Cuadrado may have been on the move again this summer, but the stars simply didn't align for the time being, although Lucci could stand to make profit from his client credit in the near future.
Notable Clients: Juan Cuadrado, Felip Djordjevic, Mirko Vucinic, Walter Gargano, Julio Baptista, Lucio
6. Sascha Breese
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Dealing on behalf of SportsTotal, Sascha Breese is the managing director of the agency set up by the aforementioned Struth, although he too comes away from his desk to help in transfer spinning.
In January of this year, news of Toni Kroos' potential departure from Bayern Munich intensified when the Mirror's Alex Richards reported David Moyes as being seen attending a Bundesliga match with Breese alongside.
As part of the SportsTotal family, Breese has helped in seeing the likes of Kroos, Reus (pictured) and Gotze get their wishes in years gone by, the former having jumped ship to Real Madrid for £20 million this summer.
Notable Clients: Marco Reus, Mario Gotze, Toni Kroos, Sidney Sam, Benedikt Howede
7. Pere Guardiola
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A couple of world-class clients is all Pere Guardiola needs to be recognised as a considerable powerhouse in the agency game, counting Luis Suarez and Thiago Alcantara among his associates.
The brother of Bayern Munich manager Pep has just helped Suarez move from Liverpool to Barcelona in a £70 million move, and efficiency would appear to be an ideology that rings true in the Guardiola household.
Notable Clients: Luis Suarez, Pep Guardiola, Thiago Alcantara
8. Ernesto Bronzetti
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Ernesto Bronzetti is a man who has established his renown in the transfer market largely by bringing parties together, a form of representation that not every agent can thrive in.
His considerable list of contacts has allowed him to help Gonzalo Higuain and Adil Rami find their way to Napoli and Milan in recent years, but his more significant moves have come in making contact between clubs themselves.
Juan Iturbe's move from Hellas Verona to Roma this summer was in part aided by Bronzetti's intermediary skills, as was Kaka's €70 million switch from Milan to Real Madrid.
Notable Clients: Gonzalo Higuain, Adil Rami, numerous clubs
9. Thomas Kroth
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PRO Profil is steadily growing its reputation as an organisation that helps Germany's stars grow their brand, with ex-Borussia Dortmund and Hamburg midfielder Thomas Kroth as its executive director.
Manuel Neuer is now largely recognised as the best goalkeeper in the world, and his talents alone are enough to give Kroth's company a boost in the general spectrum.
However, PRO Profil's niche lies in bringing Japanese talent to the Bundesliga, with the likes of Shinji Kagawa, Atsuto Uchida and Shinji Okazaki some of those to benefit from his market exploitation in recent years.
Judging by the success of those Asian imports, one can bet Kroth's profile and that of his business are only set to soar in the years to come.
Notable Clients: Manuel Neuer, Shinji Kagawa, Kevin Volland, Atsuto Uchida, Makoto Hasebe, Shinji Okazaki, Patrick Herrmann, Kiroshi Kiyotake
10. Paul Stretford
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The man who went up against Sir Alex Ferguson and won—at least as much as he could have done— Paul Stretford has shown an enormous amount of guile in his agency career to get his clients what he feels they deserve.
And of course getting what he feels he deserves has played a hand in dealings too, with Stretford undoubtedly taking a healthy cut from client Wayne Rooney over the years, United's £300,000-a-week man.
In 2010, BBC Sport reported that the agent takes up to 20 percent of Rooney's marketing earnings, making for a weighty sum in itself. A remarkable achievement given that his first client was ex-United striker Frank Stapleton.
Notable Clients: Wayne Rooney
11. Kees Vos
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Kees Vos and Alex Kroes established Sports Entertainment Group (SEG) in 2000, the former taking on the moniker of chief executive, while Kroes is regarded as director of SEG Football.
Since then, the childhood friends have come to establish a firm grip on Dutch prospects and superstars alike, their most notable assets being Robin van Persie and Kevin Strootman.
In an industry saturated with agents trying to gain an edge, it's often difficult to find an edge, but in thriving among his native Eredivisie and abroad, Vos has orchestrated some major-money moves down the years.
Notable Clients: Robin van Persie, Kevin Strootman, Memphis Depay, Stefan de Vrij, Thomas Vermaelen, Jeremain Lens
12. Fernando Felicevich
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And in that vein of establishing a niche clientele, Fernando Felicevich has established a very enviable group of Chilean assets, many of whom are drawing him in a steady amount of interest following this summer's World Cup.
Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez and Gary Medel all count the former banker as their representative, Felicevich having arrived in football during his mid-30s but certainly latching onto a South American hub that's worked in his favour.
The agent's story is particularly heartwarming in the case of Sanchez, who was picked out of a lesser lifestyle in Cobreloa by Felicevich, only to be rewarded with a move to Italy's Udinese.
Felicevich is said to take a very paternal approach with his players, proving that not every agent is perhaps of the money-hungry, one-track-mind mentality that too many episodes of Entourage would suppose.
Notable Clients: Arturo Vidal, Alexis Sanchez, Claudio Bravo, Gary Medel
13. Mino Raiola
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Mino Raiola is an agent dealing almost exclusively in superstar talent, having helped Mario Balotelli in his busy moves across Europe of late, as well as overseeing much of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's business.
A growing power in the industry, it's hardly coincidence that many of Raiola's clients tend to be forwards and flair players, his biggest defensive assets being Ignazio Abate and Brazil's Maxwell, both known for their attacking worth.
Although Edinson Cavani is managed by half-brother Walter Guglielmone, the Uruguayan utilises Raiola in an advisory role.
Notable Clients: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Mario Balotelli, Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Blaise Matuidi
14. Pinhas 'Pini' Zahavi
14 of 26Pinhas Zahavi is one of the figures who played a major hand in adding Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez to the Premier League's ranks back in 2006, where they moved from Corinthians to West Ham United.
Zahavi acted as a go-between for the deal and is a promoter of third-party ownership, the ideal being that if a signing doesn't go to plan, that failure and the fallout cost thereof is shared with another investor.
Notable among Zahavi's other dealings has been the trajectory of Rio Ferdinand's career, the Israeli helping in his £18 million move from the Hammers to Leeds United and then from Elland Road to Manchester United.
In 2006, The Guardian's Jamie Jackson described Zahavi as "football's first and only super-agent."
Notable Clients: Rio Ferdinand, Carlos Tevez, Ashley Cole
15. Wagner Ribeiro
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Third-party ownership and the sale of economic rights is a major part of how money is distributed among clubs in South America, and in that side of business, Wagner Ribeiro is a man who thrives on what he knows.
Though not alone in his business, the agent manages MJF Publicidade e Promocoes, one of the biggest agencies in Brazil and no small deal on the global scale considering Barcelona's Neymar is one of those on its books.
Ribeiro has developed a reputation for making controversial and honest statements, his most recent coming in light of Luiz Felipe Scolari's sacking as Brazil coach this summer, per Eurosport:
"One – being Portugal Coach and winning nothing. Two – going to Chelsea and being sacked the following day. Three – going to coach in Uzbekistan. Four – returning to Brazil, taking over a big team [Palmeiras] and getting them relegated to the second division. Five – leaving the club 56 days before the end of the Brasileirao [season] to ‘escape’ the relegation. Six – being an old jerk, arrogant, repulsive, conceited and ridiculous,” he finished in brutal fashion.
"
Notable Clients: Neymar, Hulk, Lucas Moura, Robinho
16. Juan Figer
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The other orchestral arm of MJF Publicidade e Promocoes is its founder, Juan Figer, who of course boasts the same client list as colleague Ribeiro, except his role isn't as hands-on as it once would have been.
The Uruguayan-Brazilian assorts himself mainly with talent from the Brasileiro Serie A, but he also helped push through Luis Figo's 2000 move from Barcelona to Real Madrid, not to mention Robinho's big-money switches to Real and Manchester City.
Notable Clients: Neymar, Hulk, Lucas Moura, Robinho, Luis Figo
17. Nicky Blair
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The son of former British Prime Minister Tony, Nicky Blair is something of a rising star in the agency industry and is reaping the benefits of a 2014 World Cup that saw Mexico identified as a resurgent power.
Earlier this year, the Daily Mail's Richard Spillett reported that mother Cherie Blair had helped fund the startup agency Magnitude, which Nicky co-founded alongside fellow Oxford University graduate Gabriel Moraes.
The 28-year-old had a hand in Hector Herrera's 2013 move from Pachuca to Porto, and using the family connections at hand, he could be a name to watch in the years to come.
Notable Clients: Hector Herrera, Marco Fabian
18. Tim Hager
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WB Sportmanagement sits as one of the biggest sports agencies operating in France, and Tim Hager works on behalf of the company as a shrewd negotiator in football talent.
Antoine Griezmann's summer switch from Real Sociedad to Atletico Madrid was facilitated by Hager, with Mamadou Sakho (Paris Saint-Germain to Liverpool) and Yann M'Vila (Rubin Kazan to Inter on loan) also falling under his jurisdiction.
Notable Clients: Yann M'Vila, Mamadou Sakho, Antoine Griezmann
19. Kia Joorabchian
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Like the aforementioned Raiola, Kia Joorabchian is an agent figure who may not count many of his clients as exclusive associates, but again his knowledge of third-party investment has seen him become a major player.
Earlier, Zahavi was referenced as a cog in the double deal that brought Tevez and Mascherano to England, but if a controlling component had to be picked out of the matter, Joorabchian would be it.
Again, it's difficult to decipher exactly which assets are under his agency umbrella, with stakes said to still be had in Tevez, Mascherano and Chelsea midfielder Ramires.
That being said, Joorabchian's main interest lies in making money, often exploring ventures far outside that of just transfer steering in order to do so.
Notable Clients: Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, Ramires, Douglas Costa, Alex Teixeira
20. Robert Schneider
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Few will have been as happy to hear of Bastian Schweinsteiger's recent appointment as German national team captain as Robert Schneider, the player's agent.
News of Holger Badstuber's steadily growing fitness will also be treated positively after the defender was almost out for two years, things looking to be back on the up for Schneider's business.
Notable Clients: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Holger Badstuber, Fabian Johnson
21. Roger Wittmann
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Responsible for a great deal of the Bundesliga's influx of Brazilian players, Roger Wittmann's agency, ROGON international, has benefited from seeing those South Americans take so well to Germany's way of things.
Among those on the rise in Europe are Roberto Firmino (Brazil), Luiz Gustavo (Brazil) and Jefferson Farfan (Peru), although Wittmann's company does also possess an encouraging stable of homegrown talents.
Julian Draxler is the gem among its ranks, but stars including Ricardo Rodriguez and Roman Neustadter also fly under the ROGON banner.
Notable Clients: Julian Draxler, Roberto Firmino, Ricardo Rodriguez, Luiz Gustavo, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Rafinha, Kevin Kuranyi, Marcel Schmelzer, Jefferson Farfan
22. Giovanni Branchini
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Giovanni Branchini may not be well-known as a super-agent icon, but having acted as an intermediary between Manchester United and Sporting Lisbon in the deal that saw Ronaldo move to Old Trafford, he certainly holds wait in the market.
This would appear to have been confirmed when in 2011, The Guardian's David Conn reported that a mystery £1 million fee had been paid in reference to Ronaldo's transfer, largely thought to be Branchini's.
Giovanni and father Umberto initially worked in the sector of boxing promotion but have firmly established themselves as Serie A heavyweights, boasting the likes of Riccardo Montolivo, Andrea Poli and Jonathan Biabiany as clients.
They do so through their company, Branchini Associati, through which they helped the Football Association appoint Fabio Capello as England manager.
Notable Clients: Riccardo Montolivo, Angelo Ogbonna, Simone Pepe, Blerim Dzemaili, Andrea Poli, Jonathan Biabany
23. Jorge Messi
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It pays to sire a superstar capable of scorching his way to the top of the football pyramid, as Jorge Messi has found out in the last decade or so after watching son Lionel tear Europe apart.
Acting as representative for the Barcelona icon, Jorge can afford to be staunch in any demands, holding the advantage of a closer relationship with his "client" than any other potential advisor may understand.
It's only a sole business associate, but it's one many an agent would kill for.
Notable Clients: Lionel Messi
24. Giuliano Bertolucci
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Brazil is big, not just in terms of geographical magnitude but when referring to the appeal and influence it has on European football matters.
Giuliano Bertolucci has exploited that amelioration to an extent, bringing a mass of Selecao talent to the shores of England, France, Italy, Portugal and wherever else there are clubs willing to pay the fees needed to get their hands on some samba flair.
Oscar, David Luiz, Lucas Piazon and Alex all moved to Chelsea on the back of Bertolucci's guidance under the Euro Export Assessoria e Propaganda Limited agency's request.
Bertolucci has an extensive list of Brazilians who have helped boost his reputation, with the likes of Marquinhos and Diego Tardelli also among his contingent.
Notable Clients: Marquinhos, Oscar, David Luiz, Diego Tardelli, Jo, Alex, Lucas Piazon, Juan Jesus, Luisao, Elkeson
25. Pierre Frelot
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As former financial and administrative director for Paris Saint-Germain, Pierre Frelot is clearly a man with marketability in his best interests, and it shows in his construction of titanic agency Mondial Sport Management.
Frelot runs the company and tends to invest his time mainly in French commodities, of which Raphael Varane, Yohan Cabaye and Olivier Giroud are among the most valuable.
However, Frelot's net stretches far and wide, boasting a network of players not particularly rife with truly elite talents of the Ronaldo and Messi ilk, but replete with a steady average of very high class.
Notable Clients: Raphael Varane, Olivier Giroud, Yohan Cabaye, Philippe Coutinho, Rodrigo, Mateo Kovacic, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Mathieu Debuchy, Sofiane Feghouli, Remy Cabella, Hatem Ben Arfa, Alexandre Pato, Fernando Llorente
26. Jorge Mendes
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The "super-agent" in question, Mendes rests on a throne of transfer dealings that have come about over the past decade or so due in no small part to an apparently stellar eye for talent.
Dealing largely in his native Portugal, bringing numerous South American talents from their home nations to the shores of Europe, Mendes' associations with investment firm Doyen Sports and agency Gestifute have been the backbone of his success.
Cristiano Ronaldo is the jewel in Mendes' glittering trophy room filled to the brim with his achievements in the transfer market, with Sporting Intelligence breaking down just how magnificent his business in the sport has been:
"Transfers now brokered by Jorge Mendes, agent who ‘won’ the window: £1,068,370,548. So far. http://t.co/qI0wGksXvQ pic.twitter.com/Uwoic9PuhF
— sportingintelligence (@sportingintel) September 6, 2014"
His connections are perhaps the most vast and far-reaching of any agent's in the sport, counting Ronaldo, Falcao and Di Maria as some to have made him extreme sums in recent years alone.
Notable Clients: Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria, James Rodriguez, Thiago Silva, Diego Costa, Eliaquim Mangala, Ezequiel Garay
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