In the murky, often impenetrable world of football agents, Jenő Bekeffy still commands the highest respect. On the one hand, because for decades he has overseen transfers for virtually every top club in the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. On the other hand, because Bekeffy has never operated in secrecy, unlike so many of the shadowy figures lurking in the sport, eager to grab a slice of European football’s riches.
His name has been linked to numerous major transfers — since 1969, he has arranged nearly 300 deals. One player, Peter Ressel, even switched clubs six times thanks to Bekeffy’s involvement.
Now that the European football market — especially in the countries where Bekeffy earns his living — is being battered by economic recession, the Hungarian-born agent, now a naturalized Belgian, claims he’s busier than ever. So what lies ahead for the international transfer scene in the coming months?
In a world where mottos like “Whispering is silver, silence is golden” reign supreme, Jenő Bekeffy breaks the mold with strikingly candid statements, such as:
“Next year Cruijff is going to Barcelona — and he’s taking Van Basten with him. Isn’t that common knowledge already?”