Football agents from the perspective of their clients: services, service evaluation, and factors that create satisfaction

Abstract

The article analyses players’ satisfaction with their football agents and factors that influence differences in level of satisfaction. To analyse the performance relationship between player and agent, their relationship is based on the principal-agent theory. The explorative study includes a dataset from professional German football players (n = 336). A logistic regression model was used to determine relevant factors influencing differences in a player’s satisfaction with an agent. Across all leagues, agents generally perform ‘classic’ transfer and contract-related tasks. It is less common for agents to be delegated tasks requiring expert knowledge in areas such as taxation. Players’ level of satisfaction with their agents appears to be rather ambivalent. However, this is significantly influenced by implicit and explicit factors, such as the scope of services and a personal relationship or screening agents in advance, respectively.