A few weeks back, I was in north London’s chilly early morning air en route to Wembley Stadium to take the FIFA agent test. Thousands of others were under pressure to pass an exam that would allow them to enter the glitzy and fiercely competitive world of certified football agents. Though anxious about the test, I couldn’t help but consider the expectations placed on people who join the football business via this exam.
Lewis Brownhill, a 37-year-old RAF chief technician who has seen tours of Afghanistan, was among the few hopefuls getting ready for the FIFA test. However, Brownhill’s primary claim to glory stems from his relationship with Burnley midfielder Josh Brownhill, his older brother. Lewis also scouts for Cassius Sports, the agency representing Josh, among other football stars, including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill.
“I feel more nervous than I would be heading to Afghanistan,” Brownhill conceded. “My intended career path is agent’s one. Although I always push myself to pass tests, since it marks my next career phase, I had to ensure I could pass. The poor pass rate of the exam does not help either. The pressure arises from there.
This exam represents an introduction to a new career that is full of obstacles, high risks, and, frequently, public scrutiny, not just a basic test of knowledge as I would soon find.
What are the challenges of the FIFA Agent Exam?
The test is held in famous sites like Wembley, where participants are seated at 300 desks arranged in the usual exam hall style. The approach is rigorous and official. Every desk has two sheets of paper and a pen; candidates have one hour to solve twenty multiple-choice questions. The inquiries address a broad spectrum of subjects, from sell-on agreements to the guidelines on when agents may contact minors. Candidates must correct at least 75% of the questions—15 out of 20—to pass.
Knowing that £300 of our money had gone on the exam fee—which included only a glass of water to accompany the nerve-wracking experience—it was difficult not to feel a sense of dread as we walked up the escalators. Beyond the pressure of the test itself, though, there was more chance to be a FIFA-licensed agent—a portal into the realm of football deals, contract negotiations, and player administration.
Why Is Demand for Agents With FIFA Licences Rising?
The January transfer window is one of the busiest periods for the roughly 7,000 licensed agents globally. Agents oversee connections between players and clubs, negotiate contracts, and handle transfers throughout this window. Agents have long been under fire for their participation in inflated transfer costs, excessive agent commissions, and occasionally dubious influence over player decisions, notwithstanding the scope of their work.
Certain managers, like former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, have been vocal in condemning agents—especially those who employ dubious strategies. Ferguson famously said: “You get agents who buy [players]’ groceries, do their travel, polish their boots. You are dealing with a human being of the kind you are. Some rule their lives.
Still, only some agents fit this profile. Many former professional athletes who have entered the business side of football use their real-life experiences to guide their clients over the game’s complexity.
Events During the Deregulation Period?
Anyone in England could register as a football agent before 2023 for a nominal charge. Deregulation of the sector between 2015 and 2023 allowed numerous unfit people to represent players without official training or education. This situation caused a flood of inexperienced agents, leading to complaints regarding field professionalism from players and other agencies.
One unidentified agent said, “A lot of players have been damaged by not having proper agents—chancers who were able to just fill in a form, pay the money, and the next day, they’re an agent.”
FIFA realized this lack of control was troublesome; hence, the agent test will be reinstated in 2023. The new FIFA license aims to increase ethical and professional standards in the sector. Only a tiny group of “legacy” agents registered before 2015 were excluded; beginning in October 2023, unlicensed agents were forbidden from working on contracts or transfers.
Is the FIFA Licence a Step Towards Industry Reformation?
The FIFA exam was meant to make agents more responsible and informed about the nuances of football contracts and trades. Though many people liked the concept of formal schooling, the exam’s implementation has been divisive.
Running Oporto Sports and representing coaches instead of athletes, Dean Eldredge passed the first Fifa exam in April 2023. “There is that impression, maybe from the outside and unfounded in many cases, that everyone can be an agent,” he said. They must help that person if the agents are good and the agency is operated correctly.
Eldredge appreciated the goal behind the new exam but also pointed out that it needed to be more relevant to his job overseeing coaches. Still, he thinks that standardizing information is a significant advancement.
Still, one cannot overestimate the challenge of the test. Just how difficult it is to pass, nearly half of those who sat the April 2023 examination failed. FIFA acknowledged that the low pass percentage helped them realize that the questions do not precisely reflect the daily responsibilities of an agent.
“There’s a view that the exam is all about the legal stuff and not about being a good agent,” former footballer turned agent Jimmy O’Connor remarked. “But, honestly, it’s beneficial if it restricts the game’s bad agent count. It shouldn’t be an assumption that you could simply walk in and work in football.”
What Await Following Exam Passing?
Football agents’ jobs are even more complex with a FIFA license. Success depends first on developing trust with players and clubs.
Exam passed Walsall and Doncaster defender Jimmy O’Connor offered his experience: “A lot of it is there to trip you maybe up, but if it were easy, it wouldn’t be doing its job. It’s as nerve-wracking as every game I have ever played.
Still, passing the FIFA exam merely grants you legal permission to represent players. You must still show your value using diligence, networking, and building trust. According to one agent, “It’s not a badge that transforms you into an agent. This is the daily grind, the relationships you create with clubs and players that foster trust, knowing your business, and proper treatment of others.”
Candidates like Stoke striker Nathan Lowe’s father, Andy Lowe, were also keen in the exam room to learn the required information to represent their children or counsel other parents on agency decisions. A FIFA license would guarantee Lowe’s ability to grasp the agency industry and make wise career management selections for his son.
“I had to investigate a lot to find out what made a good agent and why,” Andy Lowe said. “I wish to keep my agents on their toes and grasp. They help me to convey that I know what this is about. My child is everything I give a thought to.
Looking forward, what promises the industry?
Ultimately, the road to licensed football agent certification marks only the start. The procedure is demanding, the business competitive, and the stakes are significant. The benefits can be substantial for those ready to commit the time and effort.
I am a newly licensed agent, but the difficulty is building a network, acquiring customers, and negotiating the football landscape with integrity. Becoming a reputable, successful agent in the beautiful game starts with passing the FIFA exam.
