The role of player consultants has recently been the subject of heated debate, with Matthias Sammer voicing clear criticism and even describing consultants as „unnecessary“. Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl has now also spoken out on the subject
„Consultants are not a new phenomenon and perhaps players have increasingly been given the feeling that they have to protect themselves. Contracts now have 30 or more pages. It’s about marketing, rights and more. The consultancy business has therefore developed because, in addition to performance on the pitch, there are a lot of other issues outside of it,“ explained Eberl in an interview with SPORT1
For the 52-year-old, it is clear that the business has changed fundamentally in recent years. The increasing complexity of contracts and the economic dimensions have led to players needing professional support. At the same time, Eberl admits that there are problematic developments
„The sums involved today are of course very high in some cases and you can say that the role of consultants has perhaps become too big,“ said the Bayern boss, adding that he himself had already been involved in commissions that had tried to give the business more structure. „But in a free market economy, that is of course not so easy to implement. It is a very complex issue, we are all aware of that.“
Clear stance on excessive demands
Despite all the criticism, Eberl also sees the clubs as ultimately responsible. „You have to weigh things up carefully and then say ’no‘ if the demands are disproportionate,“ he clarified, making it clear that FC Bayern is not prepared to accept demands at any price
At the same time, Eberl emphasized that not all consultants should be lumped together: „Of course, there are also many good consultants with whom you can work, but there are also some who are a little more radical and ruthless in their approach.“ Ultimately, the decisive factor is your own attitude: „But as I said: as a club, you can always decide for yourself whether you want to do things or not.“