In the world of football, there seem to be certain figures who are almost impossible to get rid of—individuals who regularly appear whenever a deal needs to be closed. They present themselves as representatives of clubs or players, claiming to negotiate the most favorable terms for their clients. In reality, however, they are primarily looking out for their own interests. Players and clubs often only realize this when they discover they have been taken advantage of.
When it comes to major deals, though, these amateur “intermediaries” gain less and less access. Top clubs prefer to entrust their affairs to professionals who are recognized as official football managers. UEFA, the Union of European Football Associations, knows more than twenty-five such managers.
One of them is Lajo Bekeffy. Although he has mainly been involved in organizing major tournaments since 1969, he has nonetheless participated in around three hundred—and often significant—transfers throughout his career.
