Behind the Glove: Professional Athlete Management and the Revolutionary Buzzer Platform - Part 1

In the competitive world of professional sports, what happens behind the scenes often determines an athlete's success as much as their performance in the arena. Ahmed Villa, a professional MMA fighter, recently sat down with Arslan, a core member of the innovative Buzzer app, to shed light on the complex relationship between athletes and their management teams.

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The Complex World of Athlete Management

Professional athlete management is a delicate balance of career development, financial negotiations, and personal support. As Villa explains, "When you sign with a manager, it all depends on when you sign with that manager. Is it in the developing stage or is it when you sign later for him?"

The financial arrangements in athlete management vary significantly based on when an athlete enters a relationship with a manager. Managers who invest in developing young talent typically take a larger percentage, sometimes up to 30%, while those who work with established athletes may charge more reasonable rates, often around 15%.

"Let's say you start as a kid with some manager. Of course, he's probably going to take more from you because he invested money, gave you an apartment, did something," Villa explains. "Then you have other people that later in your career, you meet a manager that's a perfect fit, and then you start working with him, he gives you a reasonable price for his job, and you are doing your job, and that relationship just works."

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Financial Realities of Professional Sports

The financial structure in professional sports can be complex, with taxes taking a significant portion of earnings before managers receive their percentage. Villa notes the tax variations across different countries:

"In the US it's 25%. In Bosnia, it's 10%. In some countries, there's no percentage for taxes. So that's also good. I like those countries a lot."

A critical aspect of athlete management is determining which earnings are subject to management fees. According to Villa, "If a manager finds sponsorship, then he gets 15%. If he doesn't, then that's something that I got because of my influence. But if your manager finds something, of course you have to pay him for that, and that's only fair."

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The Dark Side of Athlete Management

Unfortunately, not all athlete-manager relationships are positive. Villa shared disturbing stories about management gone wrong:

"I heard people getting their houses burned to the ground or even getting death threats because they were not meeting the expectations of the manager and they wanted to change the management and stuff because they didn't want to pay that much."

These horror stories aren't limited to one region or sport. Villa mentions problems in Brazil, Serbia, Bosnia, and Croatia, where managers have engaged in unethical practices. "I've seen some managers from Brazil as well that are scumbags. I've seen some managers from Serbia, from Bosnia and from Croatia that are doing bad things to people, bringing them to lose."

Particularly concerning are managers who prioritize quantity over quality. "Sometimes the manager just wants to fill the card," Villa explains. "He doesn't care if you lose or win, he just puts you in there. He got money to bring in a sacrificial lamb."

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Navigating the Management Landscape

For upcoming athletes, choosing the right manager is crucial. Villa offers valuable advice:

"Test the waters first. That would be the first step. The second step is check the referrals, check with friends, see how are his fighters doing."

Due diligence is essential. "You see, okay, are all of his fighters on the street? Are they not doing good? You have to think about it. This guy doesn't have any high-profile fighter and he's like 10 years in the management business. So this guy is just here to take fast money."

Villa emphasizes the importance of reading contracts carefully and considering long-term career goals. "Read your contract. Don't be just blind and think, 'Okay, whatever, I just want to start fighting as soon as possible.'"

Read Part 2

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