Following Newcastle's 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, Newcastle manager took time to blame agents for their constant interference during transfer windows. Following on from this, we look back at the top 5 meddlesome agents that have been around, sticking their noses in when in when they are not wanted and generally causing controversy.
- 5th - Willie McKay
Following on from the relegation of Wolverhampton Wanderers form the Premiership in 2004, controversial Willie McKay got involved when Henri Camara refused to play in a lower league. This came after a conversation with McKay where the player was convinced to leave Wolves in search for top-flight football. After only scoring 7 goals in 30 games Camara moved on from Wolves to go on loan to Celtic, only for his contract to be cut short.
- 4th - Craig Allardyce
After the transfer of Idan Tal to Bolton, Craig Allardyce, son of West Ham manager Sam Allardyce, was sued £70,000 by a fellow football agent. Failing to pay commission to a football agent following on from the transfer, Allardyce was sued for outstanding fees, and getting involved in a situation that could have easily been avoided.
- 3rd - Bryan Robson
Although not a football agent, Bryan Robson was involved in dodgy deals regarding the buying and selling of football clubs. Buying a club, getting promoted with the club and then selling it on for a profit years later. By using managers that he knows in the game, Robson would use this to his advantage by getting managers to lend players to the club, increasing chances of promotion and therefore making a profit when selling.
- 2nd - Ian Elliot
Although Ian Elliot is not a football agent any more, he was involved with current Liverpool player Stewart Downing , who claimed money had gone missing from his accounts. Elliot was later found not guilty, but was found guilty of lesser charge. This proved to be the undoing of Elliot as he now faces bankruptcy. Another example of agents getting involved when not needed.
- 1st - Kia Joorabchian
Probably the most famous incident to date of a football agent saga. Kia Joorabchian is most commonly known for his involvement of the transfer involving Carlos Tevez. At the time a full internationals for Argentina, Tevez was linked with the top clubs in Europe, it is no wonder why people were questioning his decision to move to West Ham. It was later found out that Joorbchian had held negotiations between West Ham and the third-party ownership company of Tevez, MSI and Just Sports Inc, meaning that the transfer was completely out of the clubs owner and managers hand.
All five examples portray different ways a football agent can get involved with football and how they can meddle with players. Without agents transfers of players could potentially be a much simpler process, and with former players calling for agents to be scrapped, who knows what lies ahead for football agents worldwide.
