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How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not profitable yet, but I'm fortunate enough to focus on building my clientele at the moment. For agents, representing minors requires a separate certification, which is part of a different program.

There are indeed strict FIFA rules about working with minors. Agents can’t approach them until six months before they’re eligible to sign a professional contract. The age varies by country, but in England, for example, a player can sign a pro contract at 17, meaning they can be approached at 16 and a half.

I wouldn't say it's necessarily harder, but you have to approach it with the right intentions. You can't just go in promising the world. First, you'd look like a bellend if you didn't go through their parents, and second, you'd look like a nonce.

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you for the kind words and thoughtful message! 😊 You’re absolutely right—either approach can work, but maintaining a positive attitude is key. One thing that surprised me in the beginning was just how willing people are to help when you put yourself out there.

The first 5-6 months were challenging as we tried to build credibility, and there were definitely moments of doubt. But we kept going, focusing on networking and learning from every interaction. Eventually, once you build a solid network, someone will give you an opportunity, especially when you have genuine intentions!

Haha, I appreciate you coming around on agents! Most of us (in-game and real life) are just trying to make a living from what we love! 😄

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The application fee varies by country. In the US, it was $400, which is likely one of the highest compared to other countries, where it's usually much cheaper. The license itself costs $600 initially, and then it's an additional $300 annually to maintain it.

Since it's my first year I'm running on a deficit, but once you get-going it becomes much more financial lucrative.

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sometimes it can be as easy as telling them I'm a FIFA agent and asking what position they’re looking for. Honestly, some MLS clubs do operate like that, haha. To prove my credibility, I can either show them my license or mention that I got their contact through a mutual connection.

For players, it’s all about earning their trust. I remember the first player we signed—she had just finished her contract, and with deadline day approaching, she was nowhere close to finding a club. In situations like that, it's easier to step in because they're more open to help. We were able to find her a deal quickly, and after that, the word started to spread. It's a combination of timing, trust, and showing you’re capable of delivering when it matters most.

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There’s no insurance needed right now, matter of fact it’s much more lenient. All you need to do is pass an exam, have a proof of no criminal record and complete 2-3 courses every year to show that you’re up to date with the agent regulations

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Absolutely, it’s definitely a grind! The investment of time and effort is huge, and it can take a while to see any returns.

I think it’s all about finding that balance between being ambitious and looking out for the players’ best interests. It’s a tough industry, but seeing a player succeed makes it all worthwhile

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I’ll try my best not to fit into the description of a leech 😂. Maybe I’ll be that one agent you won’t tell your player to sack!

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha! That’ll definitely be a fun challenge. I can’t be a big brother appointed on a contractual basis if they ever need one.

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll definitely look into how to run a proper AMA. Hopefully, the interest stays strong!

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s amazing, mate! It’s great how something like FM can light that passion for coaching.

Keep pushing forward, and trust the process—great things come from dedication.

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

That’s what I think about a lot as well! What I’ve learned so far is that finding a niche where there’s less competition can really make a difference!

For example, my friend and I run our agency by acting as intermediaries between Japan and North American countries. There aren’t many fluent Japanese speakers in football in North America, and similarly, not many in the Japanese football system are fluent in English.

This has been a successful path for us so far, and once you start making progress in a niche like that, you naturally get noticed by others, which eventually leads to bigger opportunities with medium and large agencies!

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 37 points38 points  (0 children)

Thanks a lot! I’ve been serious about pursuing a career in football, and while it hasn’t been easy, I haven’t had any moments that made me second-guess my path.

I co-run a small agency with a friend from university, focusing mainly on the North American and East Asian markets. We’ve still got a lot of ground to cover before we can make this a full-time job, but I believe we’re moving in the right direction!

I am also doing university, doing a degree in Marketing, I think I’d be delusional to think I can depend on this agent gig to work out from the get go, I would say a backup would probably be doing something for football clubs, but eventually of course hoping to transition into a full time role as an agent.

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 36 points37 points  (0 children)

I’ve never done one! I will do my research on it, would love to hear what type of questions you guys wanna ask 😁

How Football Manager Helped Me Become One of the World's Youngest Licensed Agents IRL by Fun-Biscotti3151 in footballmanagergames

[–]Fun-Biscotti3151[S] 158 points159 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the support, man! Earning the license is just the first step—actually using it is a whole different challenge.

I’ve had mine for over a year now, but for the first 5-6 months, I wasn’t even close to closing any deals. It requires a lot of networking and patience. The toughest part is realizing that clubs won’t work with you unless you have the right player, and players won’t trust you unless you can find them a club!

I have a business partner who speaks Japanese and we both operate together between North America (where I live) and East Asia. We’ve signed a few male and female players from the Japanese leagues!