Claes Agency Blog
Not having been gifted with a talent for playing football, I studied as an economist and became an entrepreneur. I like to find solutions for complex challenges. As the former CEO of Standard de Liège, I have rich experience in the business of football. During my career I have witnessed first-hand the ins and outs of club and career management, of transfers and of negotiations. And it has often left me astonished and frustrated just how poorly players and their families have been represented and protected by their agents. Claes Agency was established to right these wrongs.
We believe that players and parents deserve a better level of guidance, representation and protection. We love the game of football, but we’re less in love with some of the evolutions within the industry. Standards are slipping. Norms and values are increasingly vague, resulting in practices we don’t appreciate nor condone. Owning this company allows us to determine our own standards and values for the people we work for and with.
We don’t accept grey areas.
Instead, we protect our players and staff at all levels, all of the time.
In order to navigate this very complex industry, we have assembled a team of experts - each with their own specific competencies and experiences - who assist our players 24/7. We know this is the right model, but it can also be intense, so we have made a conscious decision to work in an exclusive manner and limit the number of players we represent.
We have developed a code for success for top talent.
Our agency’s approach is based on the following pillars:
We don’t confuse movement with progress. Success is only achieved when you have the right focus and do the right things to reach the top. We don’t believe in luck and coincidence; we believe that results follow planning and hard work by defining a clear strategy.
In the conservative world of football, many people may think this idea is a crazy endeavor. However, it is our profound belief that our model brings a new approach and professionalizes the way players are represented, mentored and protected.
The results we have achieved with our current players prove that our approach is working and is what motivates us to continue our path.
Bob Claes
Founder Claes Agency