Beyond the Pitch: Post Playing Career Paths - Julien Briquez

Professional football playing careers require proactive preparation for potential unforeseen changes and, at times, early retirement due to injury. In this series, we talk to ex-pros who are leveraging video and data to stay in the game after their playing days.

In this first episode, we speak to Julien Briquez, CEO of Sumpro Global Sports Agency and FIFA Licensed Agent, about his journey after his playing career was cut short in his early twenties and how he is using Wyscout video and data in his role as an agent.

Listen to the full interview here:

Briquez was a goalkeeper who played for Annecy, Gazelec Ajaccio and Barnet but a recurring injury to his groin and left foot ultimately forced him into an early retirement at the age of 22:

Like many players who have to end their playing career prematurely, Briquez struggled in the immediate aftermath but looks back as a moment in which he learned a lot about himself:

While he was a professional player, Briquez hadn’t given much thought about post-playing careers. He tried some coaching but it took some time before he found his true calling in the football industry.

But Briquez’s journey to becoming an agent wasn’t an overnight process and he highlights the difficulties in becoming an official licensed agent:

In order to overcome the challenges of being an agent, Briquez underlines the need to be flexible, organized and passionate, alongside the crucial role  of leveraging video and data:

Briquez also believes communication, persistence and honesty are key skills for aspiring agents:

Briquez has used his own experience on the pitch to impact how he conducts himself as an agent, building stronger personal relationship with the players and focusing on the human element, not just the economic side:

Reflecting on his career, Briquez advises young players to ensure they have good representation so they can focus on their performance, as well as highlighting the importance of being realistic and preparing for life after football:

When it comes to aspiring agents, Briquez stresses the need for plenty of hard work, persistence, and developing communication and language skills:

Finally, Briquez also recommends Wyscout as an essential tool for all current and budding agents:

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