Finding a time to meet with Pavel, David, and Filip Zíka, football agents and representatives of Global Sports, is no mean feat. The players they represent are scattered across all timezones, so they are constantly keeping up with the latest news. However, they are a well-coordinated trio, passing responses with a single touch and taking immense joy from playing their game.
When we talked about four years ago, it was at a time when FIFA had released the rights to grant agent licenses to national associations. However, last year, they reversed that decision. Were these significant changes?
David: That's right. Since last October, they've moved away from that decentralized model. So, all agents must once again have a FIFA license, subject to official exams. And it's a good thing, too, because, in recent years, our profession had been shifting from quality to quantity.
Pavel: FIFA is correcting its decision. The license was – and fortunately, is again – global and truly prestigious. After that decentralized model was implemented, everything was transferred to national football associations, and we became so-called intermediaries. And confusion ensued. For example, when we were renewing Patrik Hrošovský's contract in Belgium, we had to first register as a company with the Flemish Chamber of Commerce, pay a refundable deposit of twenty thousand euros, based on which we were granted a permit, and only then could we facilitate that contract. And it was the same in other countries. The second downside was the huge increase in the number of agents, or rather intermediaries. When I started around 1998-1999, there were three licensed FIFA agents in the Czech Republic – Zdeněk Nehoda, Pavel Paska, and myself – and there were around a hundred of us worldwide. And suddenly, there were over 200 intermediaries in the Czech Republic alone, coming from a wide range of previous professions. And everyone naturally wanted to make money. And since you can reach anyone through social media today, they started approaching players in large numbers. This caused a lot of confusion and greatly degraded the agent profession. The primary goal of many of them was to snatch a player, get the biggest commission possible, and that was that. Just a one-time deal. That's the exact opposite of how we operate.
Filip: It really devalued the profession. If you added up all the players from the first to the third league in Italy, you had four agents per player.
Pavel: And of course, it generally damaged the relationship between players and agents, the relationship between players' parents and agents, etc. Simply put, because so many people were doing it, there was a lack of quality, players had bad experiences. These so-called agents would often cheat them, sell them where they got a better commission, and not care a whit about their further development. They weren't in it for the long run; it was about making a quick buck.
And that's all over now?
Filip: We're currently in a sort of transitional period, where some agent groups have challenged certain aspects of FIFA's decision from last year, so there have been drawn-out legal proceedings in some countries, and different rules also apply in different countries.
David: Some agents appealed individually, while others did so as part of national associations. Legal proceedings took place during the fall and winter in countries like the Netherlands, Germany, and England. So FIFA's idea started faltering, but as Filip says, it's just a transitional period, and we believe that FIFA's plans will prevail in the future.
Filip: At least eighty percent of those regulations are valid, while the remainder is still being developed. However, there is a significant lack of clarification from national associations, of educating
the clubs and the players; they lack information about the current state of affairs. Often, they still fail to differentiate between the national intermediary license and the global FIFA agent license.
David and FIlip with Ondřej Lingr.
You're a company spanning two generations. Are today's players different than they used to be? Are they more resilient when you release them into the world, or perhaps more “mollycoddled”? Pavel: Everything is a reflection of the current state of society, which I perceive as somewhat unstable and lacking strong foundations. This instability is influenced by numerous factors, ranging from the constant barrage of information we face daily to shifts in family dynamics and practices in upbringing. Reflecting on my 25 years of experience, I compare today's generation to the successful cohort of athletes like Pavel Nedvěd, Jan Koller, Petr Čech, Jiří Jarošík, and David Rozehnal from two decades ago. In 2000, they were European Under-21 runners-up, two years later they were European Under-21 champions, and it culminated in 2004 at the European Championships in Portugal, where we probably had the best team in Europe and we were robbed of the title due to an unlucky goal from Greece. This generation had a strong focus on the sports aspect. For them, the potential benefits of football, such as the opportunities to play abroad, learn languages, and earn higher salaries, were secondary to their passion for the game. In contrast, today's generation enjoys greater comfort and opportunities, particularly in areas like employment, travel, and living abroad. However, social values have shifted towards materialism. It's not
a general rule, but when they receive an offer from a club, players often ask about the pay first. And the whole sports aspect is secondary to them compared to the previous generation. Consequently, players may prioritize lucrative contracts over the quality of the club they join.
David: Currently, we primarily engage with the so- called Gen Z. And reading a psychological analysis
of this demographic will essentially answer your question. While each generation has its strengths and weaknesses, there are always individuals who defy mainstream trends and leave a lasting impact. They exist in this one as well. Nevertheless, it's evident that today's generation tends to be more “mollycoddled” and softer compared to previous ones.
Which players, or which transfers of players you represent, have made you happy in recent years?
Pavel: One standout is Martin Dúbravka, who has made a significant impact in the Premier League, rising to the very top there.
David: We're equally thrilled with Nicolae Stanciu's journey. We're immensely proud of his success story, and we maintain regular contact with him. Last summer, we facilitated Ondra Lingr's loan with a mandatory option from Slavia Prague to Feyenoord Rotterdam, which will turn into a permanent transfer this year. Additionally, we introduced a promising Slovak talent, Leo Sauer, to Feyenoord. Despite being just eighteen, we see enormous potential in Sauer; we believe he could become a standout player in the coming decade. In the Czech Republic, Victor Olatunji at Sparta Prague is one player who's picking up speed right now, so to speak. With a growing trend for tall African strikers moving into the penalty box, Olatunji fits the bill. While some may argue about his scoring numbers, we firmly believe he possesses the qualities to make a significant impact and garner attention abroad.
Filip: Another source of joy is our Under-17 national team, which qualified for this year's European Championship, boasting four players from our agency. Coincidentally, we see a lot of potential with the Under-17s to bring a lot of joy to professional football in the future.
Pavel: It's interesting to note that within this generation, we have a rising star who's a namesake of ours – Petr Zíka. At just seventeen years old, he scored a memorable debut goal for České Budějovice against Mladá Boleslav, cementing his spot on the starting roster. So he's another one who makes us happy.
Whom have you been representing the longest?
David: Definitely Milan Havel from Viktoria Plzeň. He has been associated with our agency since the very beginning when we founded Global Sports, so about nine years. We've been working with Martin Dúbravka for seven years, and we've also been working long-term with Slovak national team players like Patrik Hrošovský, currently playing in Genk, Belgium, or Ján Greguš, who is now with the American club Houston Dynamo.
When we talked four years ago, you, David and Filip, each had one daughter...
Filip: I've since had another one...
What does that mean for the future of the family business when the guys retire?
Pavel: That we'll focus on women's football. [laughs]
Well, who knows, it's really on the rise now...
Filip: We're following it and still considering getting into it. It certainly has a bright future ahead.
Pavel: However, our aim is to fully commit to everything we do. That's why we're still hesitating.
Filip: We strive to excel in our work, providing personalized attention to each client and staying in touch every day to ensure mutual satisfaction. Thus, we're contemplating whether we can handle it effectively.
David and Filip at Old Trafford with Martin Dúbravka when facilitating his loan to Manchester United.
Dedicating yourselves fully to each client and being available around the clock must be quite demanding...
Pavel: But we're able to handle it. Even though our wives sometimes complain that we should also dedicate time to them, not just to our clients. However, we make a real effort to keep in touch with everyone, so they know we're always there for them. We also divide responsibilities among ourselves, and I firmly believe that an agent's effectiveness and quality are demonstrated not only in securing transfers but also in the ongoing care, attention, and support provided to the players. That's why we all have access to various broadcasts and football channels from across the globe at home. We're living with the players.
David: Our portfolio is evenly distributed, and we have regional scouts in Moravia who assist us in engaging with the juniors and identifying young talents, for instance. Additionally, we've established a network of reputable international partners. We are trying our best to ensure that there's always someone available to support our players. Actually, not trying our best; it's all covered! We couldn't be successful otherwise.
I assume that players can sometimes be a bit hysterical, right? After all, football is very much about emotions...
Pavel: My wife, who isn't into sports at all, believes that football serves as a replacement for battles, knightly duels, for us men. And that's probably a profound truth.
Honestly, considering your wife isn't into sports, I'm surprised she stayed with you...
Pavel: This profession either breaks or fortifies relationships. Luckily for us, it strengthened ours, and next year we'll be celebrating forty years together.
CV BOX
Pavel Zíka
Born April 24, 1959, in Vlašim. He graduated from Prague University of Economics and Business, specializing in foreign trade. He then worked for Strojimport (senior sales officer – exports
to Western Europe) and the Embassy of the Czech Republic to Argentina (commercial envoy). In 1998, he founded Sport Invest. In 2011, he sold his shares to his partners and, in 2015, founded Global Sports, where he works with his sons and wife. In his free time, he enjoys going for walks with his wife and their dog or watching sports. He is a big fan of the tennis player Rafael Nadal.
David Zíka
Born August 21, 1986, in Prague. He graduated from the Metropolitan University Prague and then earned his MBA from the Business Institute Prague. He worked for Sport Invest (project manager), FIZA International (founder), and the Czech-Mexican Chamber of Commerce (chairman of the board). He is married and has one daughter. His hobbies are family, traveling, music, movies, and sports.
Filip Zíka
Born January 10, 1991, in Buenos Aires. He graduated from the Metropolitan University Prague, worked for Sport Invest (project manager) and FIZA International (founder). He is married and has two daughters. His hobbies are family, travel, books, cooking, and sports.
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