ABOUT ESSEL SPORTS - Essel Sports Management

Who are we?

Following a successful football career, Søren Lerby made the decision in 1995 to focus on coaching talented footballers. This has proven to be a successful move as he has developed Essel Sports Management into a leading international sports management agency. As a key partner for numerous players and clubs around the world, we fully understand what the crucial ingredient is for a successful career: FOCUS.
When it comes to management, we deliver top performance so that players can develop and reach their full potential, and focus on their performance on the pitch.

Our history

Essel Sports Management has more than 25 years of experience with international transfers, from young talented players to highly experienced internationals, from small to large clubs around the world. We’ve worked with Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart from a young age, and also collaborated with Marco van Basten and John van’t Schip.

We know the demands of top level sports and what crucial factors are required to achieve success. We understand very well the pressure from club managers and the impact of top level sports on the entourage of players. Our team of professionals is always ready with expert advice. Essel Sports Management is an agency of winners, which is a part of our mindset.

Søren Lerby

The Shadow with rolled-down socks

Søren Lerby started his football career at Boldklubben 1903 in Copenhagen, his hometown. Following a stint at Taastrup IK, the midfielder ended up at Fremad Amager, where he and teammate Frank Arnesen earned a transfer to Ajax. Ajax were crowned champions five times and won the cup twice during his time at the club. Søren had also become an important player in the Danish national squad.

Champions League: European Cup victory

A long and successful career

In the mid-Eighties Søren played at Bayern Munich for three years and then, after a period at AS Monaco, ended up at PSV. With this club he won the triple in ’88 by winning the European Cup, the Dutch League the Dutch Cup. He also won the Dutch League in ’89 with PSV.

The founding of Essel Sports Management

Helping talented young players from personal experience

With his international experience, Søren Lerby wants to help players of future generations. He knows better than anyone what it takes to reach the top, and to play and remain there. Clubs and partners have also called on his expertise, which has enabled Essel Sports Management to build up a global network. We speak the language of the players and know what is demanded at top level clubs. Søren is a connector and he puts players into contact with the right people for them to develop and get the most out of their careers.

Top players with top transfers

Essel Sports Management knows the qualities, ambitions and dreams of players and clubs. Employing a professional approach, we help talented players to get to the club where they can perform at their best, reach the top and win prizes. We speak from experience, with global transfers completed to clubs such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, AS Roma, Internazionale, Napoli, AS Monaco, FK Krasnodar, Al Ain FC , Boca Juniors, River Plate and New York Red Bulls. We have played a role in over 500 transfers.

Below you will find an overview of some of our most remarkable transfers: