Who are Football’s most powerful agents?

• Pere Guardiola, Pep’s brother, is making a name for himself in the agency world; the agent represents Luis Suarez, among other players
• The late Mino Riola was a fearless agent, everything in his power to get the best deal possible for his clients every time
• Jorge Mendes is the most influential coach in the football business, and he has dealt with high profile players like Messi, Ronaldo

Football’s influential people aren’t limited to players and managers. Specific football agents are now more well-known than the players themselves.

Agents are a tremendously important part of the game, entrusted with negotiating large money transfers and achieving the highest offers for their clients and collecting some crazy amounts of cash themselves.

They must be ruthless, astute, and determined to succeed, but who are the most powerful agents in football? 

7. Volker Struth

Volker Struth represents Toni Kroos among other players. Photo: Eurosport

The main man for talent in German , has a long list of high-profile clients, which include Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos, Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus, and Julian Weigl.

Struth’s most significant deal came in 2014 when he coordinated Kroos’ transfer from Munich to Madrid.

The German super-agent has a keen eye for discovering young talent before everyone, and he represented Mario Götze before anyone had heard of him.

Struth later made Götze the most expensive German player before the pair’s working relationship ended

6. Giuliano Bertolucci

Despite some international setbacks in recent years, Brazil is still one of the world’s best footballing nations, with a supposedly never-ending supply of young talent emerging on the streets of Rio every year.

Giuliano Bertolucci is a top man for spotting potential future star players and signing them to his agency.

His current roster includes PSG centre back Marquinhos, playmaker Felipe Anderson, West Ham winger, and Chelsea veteran defender David Luiz.

Bertolucci has a special relationship with Chelsea, having helped them sign players like Ramires, Oscar, and Willian.

5. Sports Entertainment Group (SEG)

The Dutch appear to be making a significant comeback after an unimpressive few years, as seen in the Club levels and Nations League.

With many interesting young stars and developed older players trying to form a robust talent pool.

SEG is the top talent scout in the Netherlands, having signed Daley Blind, Memphis Depay, Stefan de Vrij, and Marseille midfielder Kevin Strootman.

Jasper Cillessen and Quincy Promes are also on SEG’s books, and the agency has contracts with some very young talented footballers, such as Ajax attacker Kasper Dolberg.

4. PERE GUARDIOLA

Pere Guardiola, Pep Guardiola’s brother is one of the powerful agents in football, he represents Suarez. Photo: Sport

Pep may be the biggest name in modern football, but his brother Pere is making a name for himself in the agency world.

Pere Guardiola represents Luis Suarez, Yuri Berchiche and William Carvalho as part of the Media Base Sports brand while managing his brother’s contracts.

Representing a super coach like Guardiola is a big job. Still, Pere’s agency has also signed many exciting young talents in recent years, including Man City’s Brahim Diaz and Real Betis’ Junior Firpo.

 So we can consider Pere to become a significant player in the agency world as time passes.

3. JOSE OTIN

Jose Otin, one of the most powerful agents in football

Many agents prefer to focus on specific leagues or nationalities. Jose Otin is one of the most well-known names among Spanish players in La Liga.

Under the umbrella of his football agency, he represents Fernando Torres, Javi Martinez Nacho Monreal, , Pedro, Dani Ceballos, Kepa Arrizabalaga Vitolo, and many others.

Otin has experience a player and a sports commentator, so he knows the ins and outs of the game.

He is also a well-liked figure in his motherland, always ready to sign the next Spanish superstar and big-money broker deals.

2. MINO RIOLA

Mino Raiola, the super agent. Photo: MARCA

Mino Raiola is a well-known football agent who has been involved in some of the most high-profile transactions in recent years. Including Paul Pogba’s big-money move to Manchester United in 2016.

The Italian agent also represented Mario Balotelli, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Marco Verratti, Romelul Lukaku, and Erling Haaland

Raiola also represents a couple of potential future superstars, including Dutch winger Justin Kluivert and Italian keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

 He built a reputation for doing everything to get the best deal possible for his clients every time, much to the great annoyance of many football clubs and coaches.

Unfortunately, the super-agent passed on the 30th of April.

1. JORGE MENDES

Jorge Mendes, the most powerful football agent. Photo: Goal.com

Even though he’s getting older, Cristiano Ronaldo is still one of football’s two biggest names, along with Lionel Messi, so it’s only natural that CR7’s agent, Jorge Mendes, is at the top of this list.

Mendes, who has been named ‘Best Agent of the Year’ at the Globe Soccer Awards, got into the industry after meeting Nuno Espirito Santo in a bar and arranging the young goalkeeper’s move to Spain.

He has a good reputation for hunting and spotting talent, and his client list includes Ruben NevesNicolas Otamendi, Bernardo Silva Goncalo Guedes, Ederson, and James Rodriguez.