MrRichardClarke | Sports Digital Consultant and Journalist

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Stijn Francis: (How not to become) The Bankrupt Footballer

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Stijn Francis: (How not to become) The Bankrupt Footballer MrRichardClarke

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

LINKS

Stijn Francis Twitter | LinkedIN

Stirr Associates website

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