Presentation as Art and Science
Presenting a player to a club is one of the most important skills in an agent's career. It seems simple: you have a player, a club needs a player, you connect them. In practice, it is a complex process where every detail matters: timing of contact, format of the material, how to communicate the player's profile, and negotiation timing.
An agent who poorly presents their players, even if they have talent in their portfolio, will struggle to close deals. This guide reviews the entire process.
Before Contact: Preparing the Material
No presentation should be made without having the material ready. The minimum essentials are:
The Player Dossier
A 1 to 2-page document (PDF) including:
- Personal and contact information
- Position and dominant foot
- Club history with dates and categories
- Statistics from the last 2 seasons
- Current contractual situation (expiration date, contract type)
- Estimated market value (you can use Transfermarkt as a reference)
- A brief description of the player's profile (3 to 5 lines)
The Presentation Video
A 3 to 5-minute updated reel with the player's best plays. Do not use the same video from two years ago. If the player has a profile on Futbol CV, a link to the profile can complement the dossier and give the club access to more context.
References
If you have mutual contacts with the club you are presenting to, or if the player has been at a well-known club, mentioning this can open doors. References are not essential but shorten the time to build trust.
First Contact: How to Reach the Decision Maker
The most common mistake is contacting the wrong person. Sending an email with a player's dossier to the club's generic email is the digital equivalent of shouting into the void. You need to reach the person who makes recruitment decisions.
In professional clubs, this is usually the sporting director, the head of scouting, or in smaller clubs, directly the coach. In amateur or lower-tier clubs, sometimes the president is the decision-maker.
The most effective ways to reach them:
- Direct contact at matches or industry events
- LinkedIn: many football executives have active profiles and respond to well-crafted direct messagesThrough mutual contacts: an agent, scout, or former player who knows the right person
- Personalized email (never a generic template)How to Write the First Message
- The first message must be brief, concrete, and clearly state why this player is relevant to that particular club. Avoid long and generic texts. An effective message follows this structure:One-line self-introduction (who you are, who you represent)
Player profile in two or three lines (position, age, current level)
Why you believe the player is relevant for that specific club (this is the most important part)
- Call to action: propose a call or send material if there is interest
- The key is point 3. If the club just lost their starting striker to injury and you have an available striker, say so. If the player speaks the club's country language and has an EU passport, mention it. The message must show you know the club's situation, not that you are sending a mass email to 50 teams.
- Presentation In Person or Via Videocall
- If the first contact generates interest, the next step is usually a longer conversation. Prepare:
Detailed knowledge of the player: their history, strengths, areas for improvement, personal situation
Knowledge of the club: their playing system, current needs, estimated budget
Preliminary conditions: type of contract the player seeks, expected salary range, availability to travel or relocate
- Never enter this conversation without having researched the club. Asking "how do they usually play?" when you could have watched their last three matches signals unprofessionalism.
- Follow-up: The Most Neglected Stage
- Most presentations do not close on the first contact. Follow-up is where many agents fail: either they are too persistent (which irritates) or disappear after the first message and let the opportunity cool down.
The right balance is to follow up 5-7 days after the first contact if there was no response, and then once more at 2 weeks. If by then there is no interest, it is better to redirect energy to other clubs.
When there is active conversation, respond quickly and keep material updated. If the player had an important match in the meantime, sending the clip can rekindle the club's interest at the right moment.
Building a Sustainable Presentation Flow
The most effective agents do not present players reactively. They have a system where they always know which clubs are looking for which profiles, and when a player fits, the contact already has prior context.
Using platforms like
Futbol CV
to keep your players' profiles updated allows clubs themselves to find your players in their searches, generating inbound inquiries that complement your active scouting work. It is the difference between working only outbound and also receiving inbound.
Using platforms like Futbol CV to keep your players' profiles up to date allows clubs themselves to find your players in their searches, generating incoming inquiries that complement your active scouting efforts. It's the difference between working solely outbound and also receiving inbound interest.