Service
Support Professional Athletes for their Brilliant Career
Agent Serivice
Our agent business has a history spanning over 20 years. When our representative, Mr. Endo, went to England in 1997 and worked at Arsenal Football Club in the England Premier League, he became the first-ever The Football Association licenced agent for Japanese nationals. This marked the beginning of our agent business.
In 2005, Universal Sports Japan Inc. was established. Currently, we have a unique network not only within Japan but also in Europe, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. We represent around 80 clients.
In recent years, we have successfully facilitated European transfers for prominent Japanese players such as Wataru Endo (Liverpool FC in England) and Hiroki Ito (VfB Stuttgart in Germany).
Our philosophy remains unwavering: ‘An agent exists for the player. We provide as much assistance as possible to ensure that each player can walk their irreplaceable playing career path with full satisfaction.’ Whether negotiating transfers or providing post-retirement support, we strive to be the best confidants for players at all times.
In the world of football, transfers involve more than just matching desired clubs with willing players. Adequate preparation is essential to ensure seemingly mutual transfers actually come to fruition.
Throughout a player’s football journey, there are highs and lows. Some events, like injuries, are beyond the player’s control. And eventually, every player faces the inevitable ‘retirement day.’
Our commitment is to be the best support for players at all times. We continuously explore the best career options for each player and work tirelessly to make those choices a reality.
This is our unwavering dedication to our agent service.
Management Service
❶ Legal Support
While belonging to a club team, it is essential to protect the rights and maximize the value of professional athletes who also operate as “individual entrepreneurs.” At Universal Sports Japan, we provide comprehensive legal support to our affiliated professional athletes in collaboration with the legal team from our group company, Authense Law Office.
From the fine details of contracts with club teams and sponsor companies to addressing industry-specific trends and issues, our knowledgeable lawyers work diligently to prevent and resolve legal troubles, especially in the rapidly growing landscape of risks related to defamation, harassment, and intellectual property on social media platforms.
❷ Performance Enhancement and Quality of Life (QOL) Support
Ensuring the physical and mental well-being of each professional athlete is crucial for them to lead a fulfilling active career without regrets. Our services extend from improving the quality of training, recovery, and health management to providing practical support for a stress-free and enriched lifestyle.
❸ Asset Management and Investment Support
In an era where people are expected to live up to 100 years, very few professional athletes adequately address asset planning. Recognizing this, we feel a strong sense of urgency and responsibility. To enhance financial literacy among our affiliated athletes and ensure proper asset design, we employ advisors with the right background. From overall asset management to tax planning, we provide comprehensive support.
❹ Second Career and Dual Career Support
At Universal Sports Japan, we believe in creating an environment where second careers can be pursued without giving up on dreams due to their challenges.
We firmly believe that those who have realized their childhood dream of becoming professional athletes inherently possess untapped potential for success in their second careers.
With technological advancements enabling various forms of dual careers, we encourage athletes to acquire the mindset needed to explore diverse options, understand information, and excel in new career paths. Our team comprises individuals with diverse backgrounds, and our extensive industry connections allow us to provide robust support for second careers and dual careers.
❺ Image Rights Management and Collaboration with Media and Corporations
We actively manage the image rights of our affiliated professional athletes and maintain close collaboration with various media outlets and industry companies.
Through media appearances, we enhance the visibility and branding of our athletes. Additionally, we propose sponsorships, endorsements, and various other initiatives to support corporate branding and CSR activities.