Stijn Francis: (How not to become) The Bankrupt Footballer
Stijn Francis runs one of the biggest football agencies in Belgium with a client list including international stars such as Toby Alderweireld and Dries Mertens.
Player representation is known as a difficult, precarious and unscrupulous industry. Regulation has been difficult to enforce and, as a result, many have been bitten when dipping their toes into these shark-infested waters.
That includes the players themselves, who often struggle to secure their financial future despite earning vast sums during a relatively short career.
This prompted Francis to write a book called The Bankrupt Footballer, a guide to financial management that outlines the potential pitfalls and how to avoid them.
In this podcast, we discuss his fiscal philosophy and how he helps his client stay solvent and satisfied.
Stijn Francis, Stirr Associates
TOPICS
Why makes a footballer go bankrupt
Navigating a player through the difficult period just after they have retired
Gaining the trust of a newly-rich player
“The danger of contract improvements”
Why Stijn likes to work with players before they sign their first big contract
Why players should invest in property over stocks and shares
Using social media to develop commercial models
How Vincent Kompany is an example of using social media to push his post-playing career
How to train as an agent
The transparency problem in the agency world
How Stijn would regulate agents
The pastoral care of players and where the responsibility rests
The primary aims when negotiating a new contract
Stopping yourself getting cynical
Why Stijn will not take on new players during the transfer window
The legal and cultural differences in dealing with different countries
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