Dimitri Savva sold trainers and served popcorn before starting his own agency, along with older brother Savvaki.
He now helps prospects from Non-League and the lower divisions of the EFL chase their dreams higher up the ladder.
Among his clients are Brighton midfielder Steven Alzate, 21, and Peterborough United striker Mo Eisa, 25.
Savva is approaching a decade in football, with D&S Sports Management founded in 2016 after he had worked for JD Sports, Vue Cinemas, and as a hotel receptionist.
“I was doing independent scouting for various agencies and professional clubs to gain the experience and knowledge I needed,” he said.
“At the same time, I was working my way up at the hotel from receptionist to general manager, which was the perfect job to have while I was progressing towards becoming an intermediary.
“After building a solid network of contacts and gaining invaluable experience, I set off to do my own thing with my brother, who is our head of recruitment.
“It’s hard when you’re starting out as an agent because it is very costly and can get lonely as you have to travel a lot, network, and entertain.
“You spend a lot of time away from your family and friends trying to find the next gem, but I was lucky to have people who understood, supported, and drove me to grow in the industry.”
The focus for the Savva brothers is on young professionals and talent from outside the EFL.
Eisa was plucked from Greenwich Borough by Cheltenham Town in 2017 before moving up to Championship club Bristol City within the space of 12 months. He joined League One outfit Peterborough last summer.
This story is from the May 03, 2020 edition of The Non-League Football Paper.
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This story is from the May 03, 2020 edition of The Non-League Football Paper.
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