If you ever wonder about the influence of Mino Raiola, recall that  Ibrahimovic mentioned him in his retirement speech in front of a full stadium: “This is for Mino Raiola”. Fortunately, Raiola published this exhilarating read before his death at age 54. In his 30-year career, he managed the likes of Nedved, Pogba, and Haaland. The writing style and extensive knowledge of the industry make this book a must-read for both football enthusiasts and aspiring agents. It is full of anecdotes, practical advice, and remarkable insights into the negotiations and deals behind the scenes. This book is a delightful treasure trove for anyone eager to gain a deeper understanding of the complex and exhilarating world of football.

Fascinating read from one of the most powerful agents in the world. Starting with Nuno Espirito Santo as a player, the career of Mendes is fascinating and crucial for the development of Portuguese soccer. He represented most of what Porto was when they won the Champions League, from Mourinho to Carvalho and Tiago. A super agent will not be complete if it doesn’t have a superstar – Cristiano Ronaldo. Now imagine if you have a book with insights into these deals, showing both tactical and strategic thinking. Get the book, you won’t regret it!

Erkug Sogut handles only one client – Mesut Ozil. Unlike other cases when there is a family connection, Ozil hired Sogut for his background as a lawyer and his similar background as a second-generation Turkish immigrant in Germany. Ozil’s brand is very tightly coupled with this heritage and Sogut manages both the legal aspect and the strategic thinking. It is truly a different kind of book to see the relationship of a low-key agent that handles this in a very professional manner. Sogut is still very young and we might see more superstars coming through his agencies. For now, it is a unique book to read and we strongly recommend it. 

Definitely an original book, but perhaps a bit outdated. Unlike some other agents on this list, Smith’s best-known client is still Maradona. Smith discusses the issues and concerns that soccer clubs and agents face, especially when it comes to financial regulations. As with other agents, the ego glows strongly, but perhaps PR packaging, in this case, was skipped. For those that can stomach the honesty, it is a great direct read. For the idealists, maybe it would be better to skip this one and focus on the ones that focus on the good stories of everything working out fine.

One non-soccer book on the list is Leigh Steinberg’s “The Agent: My 40-Year Career Making Deals and Changing the Game.” Steinberg spills the beans on his incredible journey, from representing individual players to pulling off mega-million dollar deals that make your jaw drop. This is the agent that is the inspiration for the famous movie Jerry Maguire with Tom Cruise. Don’t get us wrong, the world of soccer is very different than the world of football, especially in the USA. However, it is an entertaining read and an interesting perspective. Get ready for an adrenaline rush as he shares mind-blowing stories and practical tips that will make you feel like you’re sitting at the negotiating table with him.