Jerome Anderson (football agent)
Encyclopedia
Jerome Anderson is a football
agent
and the head of SEM (Sport, Entertainment and Media Group), the company he founded in 1984. In 2009 SEM was reported to employ 20 people across offices in the UK, US, Portugal, Switzerland and Spain, and to represent over 150 professional footballers. "It's always been a people business," Anderson once said. "The number one thing is to understand that clients are people with feelings. In effect, clients become family. We help them deal with problems."
In February 2009 SEM formed a corporate partnership with Kentaro, a Swiss-based sports rights business who are among the major players in the international marketing of football television rights.
, whom he had supported since he was four and where he had been the stadium announcer. Among his early clients were the Arsenal players Charlie Nicholas and David Rocastle
. "It became clear that players needed proper professional representation to ensure they were focused on success on the field," Anderson said.
SEM went on to represent, among others, the Arsenal players Tony Adams
, Ian Wright
, Dennis Bergkamp
, David Seaman
, Emmanuel Petit
, and Thierry Henry
. Anderson formed a close working relationship with the Arsenal vice-chairman, David Dein
, whose son, Darren, worked for SEM.
through their agent, John Shittu. Shittu reportedly persuaded Mikel's father to grant SEM power of attorney over his son and subsequently oversaw the player's transfer to the London club despite a move having seemingly been agreed to take the player to Manchester United.
and then Blackburn Rovers. At Manchester City, between £5 million and £7 million was reported to have been paid in commission to Anderson as part of the recruitment of eight new players in the weeks following the takeover of the club by Thaksin Shinawatra
in May 2007. Anderson advised Shinawatra on the takeover, introducing him to Keith Harris (whose firm, Seymour Pierce, handled the deal) and recommending as manager Sven-Göran Eriksson
, before his influence waned as the new owners balked at such payments and other figures –notable Kia Joorabchian
and Pini Zahavi
– became involved. Anderson said: "There is no one else in the world who could have delivered what I did in three weeks. It was my idea to open it up to other agents, and whatever I was paid –and it wasn't as much as City say– they've had it back in spades."
on their takeover of the club in November 2010 and then continued to exert considerable influence. After the Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce
was sacked in December 2010, Blackburn were forced to deny that the dispute had been based on the club's transfer policy being set by the Kentaro sports agency, with whom Anderson's SEM were associated. "Kentaro are our main consultants but Sam had the final call," Venky's chairwoman Anuradha Desai said.
The new manager at Blackburn was Steve Kean
, who had been first-team coach under Allardyce. Kean was represented by Anderson, who also introduced Kean's new assistant, the former Arsenal player, John Jensen
, to the club. When John Williams left Blackburn Rovers in February 2011 after 14 years as chairman, Anuradha Desai explained that the departure was in part due to the fact that he had "struggled to accept Jerome's role at the club". In March 2011, when it was announced that Anderson's 21-year-old footballer son, Myles, had signed a precontract agreement with Blackburn, sources close to the agent insisted he had no day-to-day involvement at the club.
The Manchester United
manager Sir Alex Ferguson
was highly critical of Anderson's involvement at Blackburn Rovers, saying: "You’ve got that issue at Blackburn of an agent involved and deciding the future of the club, Jerome Anderson, he couldn’t pick his nose. It’s baffling and it’s a serious threat to how clubs get run and how they conduct themselves.”
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
agent
Sports agent
A sports agent procures and negotiates employment and endorsement contracts for an athlete.In return, the sports agent generally receives between 4 and 10% of the athlete's playing contract, and 10 to 20% of the athlete's endorsement contract, though these figures vary...
and the head of SEM (Sport, Entertainment and Media Group), the company he founded in 1984. In 2009 SEM was reported to employ 20 people across offices in the UK, US, Portugal, Switzerland and Spain, and to represent over 150 professional footballers. "It's always been a people business," Anderson once said. "The number one thing is to understand that clients are people with feelings. In effect, clients become family. We help them deal with problems."
In February 2009 SEM formed a corporate partnership with Kentaro, a Swiss-based sports rights business who are among the major players in the international marketing of football television rights.
Early career and involvement at Arsenal
Anderson trained as a banker and worked as a currency trader and in insurance, before beginning his career as Jerome Anderson Management in association with players from Arsenal F.C.Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, whom he had supported since he was four and where he had been the stadium announcer. Among his early clients were the Arsenal players Charlie Nicholas and David Rocastle
David Rocastle
David Carlyle Rocastle, nicknamed Rocky, was an English football player, who spent the majority of his career at Arsenal...
. "It became clear that players needed proper professional representation to ensure they were focused on success on the field," Anderson said.
SEM went on to represent, among others, the Arsenal players Tony Adams
Tony Adams (footballer)
Tony Alexander Adams, MBE is an English football manager and former player.Adams spent his entire playing career of 22 years as a defender at Arsenal. He is considered one of the greatest Arsenal players of all time by the club's own fans and was included in the Football League 100 Legends...
, Ian Wright
Ian Wright
Ian Edward Wright, MBE is a retired English footballer turned television and radio personality.Wright enjoyed success with London clubs Crystal Palace and Arsenal, spending six years with the former and seven years with the latter. With Arsenal he has lifted the Premier League title and both major...
, Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Bergkamp
Dennis Nicolaas Bergkamp , is a former Dutch professional footballer who is currently the assistant manager to Frank de Boer at Ajax. At club level he played for Ajax, Internazionale, and Arsenal, and also represented the Netherlands at international level...
, David Seaman
David Seaman
David Andrew Seaman MBE is a former English football goalkeeper who played for several clubs, most notably Arsenal. He retired from the game on 13 January 2004, following a recurring shoulder injury...
, Emmanuel Petit
Emmanuel Petit
Emmanuel "Manu" Laurent Petit is a retired French footballer, who played his club football for Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Chelsea...
, and Thierry Henry
Thierry Henry
Thierry Daniel Henry is a French professional footballer who plays for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.Henry was born in Les Ulis, Essonne where he played for an array of local sides as a youngster and showed great promise as a goal-scorer. He was spotted by AS Monaco in 1990 and...
. Anderson formed a close working relationship with the Arsenal vice-chairman, David Dein
David Dein
David Barry Dein is the former vice-chairman of Arsenal Football Club and former vice-chairman of the Football Association. He was also the President of the G-14 group of European football clubs between October 2006 and May 2007 and has sat on various committees within FIFA and UEFA including...
, whose son, Darren, worked for SEM.
John Obi Mikel
In 2005 Anderson's SEM was involved in the controversial transfer of John Obi Mikel from FK Lyn in the Norwegian league to Chelsea F.C.Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
through their agent, John Shittu. Shittu reportedly persuaded Mikel's father to grant SEM power of attorney over his son and subsequently oversaw the player's transfer to the London club despite a move having seemingly been agreed to take the player to Manchester United.
Manchester City
Anderson subsequently came to further attention for his influence at first Manchester City F.C.Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
and then Blackburn Rovers. At Manchester City, between £5 million and £7 million was reported to have been paid in commission to Anderson as part of the recruitment of eight new players in the weeks following the takeover of the club by Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
in May 2007. Anderson advised Shinawatra on the takeover, introducing him to Keith Harris (whose firm, Seymour Pierce, handled the deal) and recommending as manager Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
, before his influence waned as the new owners balked at such payments and other figures –notable Kia Joorabchian
Kia Joorabchian
Kiavash "Kia" Joorabchian is an Iranian-born British-educated businessman largely involved in association football.In the register of directorships at Companies House in London Joorabchain gives two nationalities, Canadian and British, as well as two names, Kia Joorabchian and Kia Kavash, and two...
and Pini Zahavi
Pini Zahavi
Pinhas "Pini" Zahavi is a football agent who has been involved in some of the most expensive and controversial transfer episodes of recent times....
– became involved. Anderson said: "There is no one else in the world who could have delivered what I did in three weeks. It was my idea to open it up to other agents, and whatever I was paid –and it wasn't as much as City say– they've had it back in spades."
Blackburn Rovers
At Blackburn Rovers Anderson advised Venkateshwara HatcheriesVenky's (India) Limited
Venky's Limited is a subsidiary of V H Group, an Indian company that specialises in chicken meat processing, and pharmaceutical products for both poultry and human usage.-History:...
on their takeover of the club in November 2010 and then continued to exert considerable influence. After the Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
was sacked in December 2010, Blackburn were forced to deny that the dispute had been based on the club's transfer policy being set by the Kentaro sports agency, with whom Anderson's SEM were associated. "Kentaro are our main consultants but Sam had the final call," Venky's chairwoman Anuradha Desai said.
The new manager at Blackburn was Steve Kean
Steve Kean
Stephen "Steve" Kean is a Scottish football manager and former player. He is the current manager of Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League.-Playing career:...
, who had been first-team coach under Allardyce. Kean was represented by Anderson, who also introduced Kean's new assistant, the former Arsenal player, John Jensen
John Jensen
John Jensen , nicknamed Faxe, is a former Danish international footballer who is unemployed. He is known for his temper and is often outspoken in interviews. His playing career lasted over a decade, during which he played most famously for Arsenal F.C...
, to the club. When John Williams left Blackburn Rovers in February 2011 after 14 years as chairman, Anuradha Desai explained that the departure was in part due to the fact that he had "struggled to accept Jerome's role at the club". In March 2011, when it was announced that Anderson's 21-year-old footballer son, Myles, had signed a precontract agreement with Blackburn, sources close to the agent insisted he had no day-to-day involvement at the club.
The Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
manager Sir Alex Ferguson
Alex Ferguson
Sir Alexander Chapman "Alex" Ferguson, CBE is a Scottish association football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United, where he has been in charge since 1986...
was highly critical of Anderson's involvement at Blackburn Rovers, saying: "You’ve got that issue at Blackburn of an agent involved and deciding the future of the club, Jerome Anderson, he couldn’t pick his nose. It’s baffling and it’s a serious threat to how clubs get run and how they conduct themselves.”