#26 First Steps (1)
Any player needs an agent. It's incredibly hard for a player to gain the upper hand in negotiations with a club on their own. Unless you're a superstar, players are usually the weaker party compared to the team. Even those superstars hire agents without fail—one hundred out of a hundred. It's not just about negotiations; you need knowledge of all sorts of legal matters to avoid getting stabbed in the back, and no player can handle that alone. Plus, with money on the line, if the player steps in directly, it risks souring relations with the club. If there's a big gap in financial expectations, the player has no choice but to fight to protect their value. That's where agents come in.
Agents act as devoted bodyguards for the player alone, sometimes playing the villain if needed, fighting tooth and nail for their client's worth and interests. But their role isn't limited to negotiations. If a player wants a transfer or gets released, they find a new club. When moving nests, they help with housing and adapting to unfamiliar places. They handle legal issues on the player's behalf, manage the media to protect them, take care of taxes, proxy ad and sponsor deals, and even plan for post-retirement life. Some top agents even design training programs, assign personal coaches, and actively support workouts... Of course, they take a cut of the earnings as commission, but in return, the player can focus solely on the game. Win-win.
Given how crucial an agent's role is, players suffer major setbacks without a capable one. Still, back when I played for Gimpo United, I didn't hire one. Agent culture is deeply ingrained abroad, but in Korea, it hadn't fully taken root yet. With peanuts for a salary, hiring an agent meant worrying about fees too, so unless you were on eight-figure pay, rookie players in Korea usually went without—unless they were top prospects.
"So you handled the negotiations yourself?"
Despite how vital agents are, there I was, boldly negotiating directly with AD Alcorcón's technical director, Iñigo Chapé, over dinner.
"It's a stretch to even call it negotiations, honestly. I just heard out the club's proposed amount and options, then called it a night."
I didn't pass on any specific requests. I lacked info on the local scene.
"Hmm... So what's your plan going forward?"
After that dinner, I went home and agonized over it for a while. Two options: handle it myself or hire an agent. After a full day of deliberation, I finally decided. And that's why I'd come here.
"For now, I'll hear their terms without an agent and take my time deciding. From what I've looked into, even signing a pro contract in Spain's leagues means I can't play until next season starts."
To the man before me now: Jose Bravo.
"Waiting until the fruit ripens sweet, eh?"
Jose Bravo grinned.
I'd sought out this real estate guy—not an agent—for two reasons: his connections and his info. Though owner of an amateur club, Uncle Adrian had told me Jose Bravo had solid ties to pro players in Madrid. Plus, his wife, Camilla Bravo, had served as legal advisor for CD Coslada and previously handled disputes for pro clubs and players.
"Alright, what exactly do you want from me? If it's an intro to a solid agent, I can ask around my player buddies."
"I'd be grateful, but not right now."
"Not right now?"
Jose Bravo looked puzzled.
"The fruit I'm waiting to ripen sweet isn't just the club's offer."
"...!"
His eyes widened as understanding dawned, then he burst into hearty laughter.
"Hahaha! My brother's got one hell of a fun nephew."
It'd been just two weeks since my semi-pro debut. Sure, I'd gone nuts with 12 goals and 4 assists in two games, but no super agent was reaching out yet. They'd want players who make money, after all.
Agents are hugely helpful, no doubt, but a bad fit could be poison. I didn't trust the ones sniffing around now. At least not until I dropped insane performances on the pro stage—then the real pros would come crawling to sign me.
"Want to hear the secret to how I built my fortune in real estate?"
Jose Bravo's sudden question had me nodding.
"More important than analysis or gut? This."
He flashed the gold Rolex on his wrist.
"Time. Ever heard 'time is money'?"
"Of course."
"Ditch the rush. Use the time you've got leisurely. Wine aged long gets richer in flavor and price."
His smile vanished abruptly.
"But it has to be quality wine. Age cheap swill for a century, it's still swill."
Spot on. Waiting idly with nothing to show is idiotic. But I was certain now: give me time, and I'd shake up world soccer beyond Europe.
"As I said, I've only played two games in Segunda Federacion. Yet I got a pro offer in two weeks."
"Impressive."
"That day, Alcorcón's TD seemed desperate. Chased. It hit me: wait a bit, and other clubs will come calling."
A faint smile returned to Jose Bravo's lips.
"Not waiting for a La Liga top-flight offer tomorrow. Opportunities are precious to me. Competition? Love it. Confident I'll win. But stepping up gradually matters too."
Jose Bravo just listened contentedly, saying nothing.
"Spain mandates buyout clauses legally. For second division, it won't be sky-high. Dominate there above the buyout, my value skyrockets."
"Naturally."
"Alcorcón gave me my first shot. Credit to Vitolo for the bridge, though."
I grinned and added,
"Huge gratitude to CD Coslada too. Sorry I only played one game."
"Nonsense. I told you: thanks to you, we're on the cusp of historic semi-pro promotion."
It was obvious how much he liked me.
"Know Del Piero, Jose?"
"The Italian footballer?"
"He said: a gentleman doesn't leave when a lady needs him."
Jose Bravo nodded slowly, familiar with it.
"Alcorcón needs me. Their striker woes killed promotion hopes. I'm confident I can fix the goals. I want my pro debut with the team that first saw my value and offered the contract—on good terms."
"But not for peanuts?"
"Yeah. A lady's beauty keeps the gentleman from leaving."
"Puhahaha! Damn right! Spot on! Hahaha!"
Jose Bravo roared with laughter, then cleared his throat once calmed.
"Summary: You'll take Alcorcón's offer if it's satisfying—no waiting. Confident in your skills, so first pro contract solo, no agent. Right?"
"Pretty much."
Grinning, he turned to Camilla Bravo, who'd been quietly listening.
"Camilla, be this fun nephew of Adrian's agent. Just for this deal, temporary. I really like the kid."
To be an agent, meet one of three: license, lawyer, or family. Jose couldn't, but Camilla could. And she had soccer legal battle experience.
"I'll only step in as legal rep. For standard agent stuff, find someone else. If that's fine, I'll help."
Camilla smiled warmly at me.
Fame? Ads? Sponsors? Not now. Soccer first. Nail that, the rest follows. Right now, I needed Camilla's legal aid—and info.
"Please. I won't forget the help."
Moment I gained a sturdy blade.
But wait too long for the fruit to ripen, and worms might devour it, leaving just the husk.
With Camilla in tow, after two meetings, I jacked up the amount and terms from day one.
Not club-top treatment. Neither she nor I expected that. Even bombing fourth tier with overwhelming dominance, it wasn't time for outrageous demands. No team would bite.
"Can't go higher. Other second-division clubs similar. I'll keep my promise. You know now: solid contract for this level."
Camilla nodded slightly in agreement.
Iñigo Chapé's offer: three years till summer 2040. Weekly 5,000 euros—about 7 million won. Plus appearance bonus 500 euros, win 700, goal 200. Hat-trick win? 1,800 euros per game, around 2.5 million won.
Buyout: 1.5 million euros, about 2 billion won. Promotion to La Liga? Terms double.
Solid offer. Mid-top La Liga 2 top weekly around 10,000 euros—this was no slouch. For a guy with three fourth-tier games (4 goals, 1 assist last)—zero pro experience in Europe—par for the course, borderline generous. Felt Iñigo's thirst for a striker, his desperation to snag me.
With Camilla's legal review, I signed with AD Alcorcon.
Weird feeling: months ago, scraping K League minimum 30 million won; now, over 350 million yearly.
But no smugness yet.
"From today, you're an Alcorcón pro, Theo. Huge expectations. Do us proud."
This was just the start.