Toni Calvo, agent at SportySpain
/ SportySpain
Albert Gracia
**Q: How did the idea for this agency come about, and what gap in the market did you see?**
**A:** SportySpain was born from a desire to support players in the way we wished we had been supported when we were in their shoes. Two “crazy” friends passionate about football—Alberto Moral and myself (Toni Calvo)—both former players, we felt the need, the drive, and the knowledge to help guide young talents from grassroots to professional football.
**Q: Starting from scratch is never easy. What has been the biggest challenge along the way?**
**A:** It’s never easy, especially in such a competitive and demanding industry where immediate results are expected. But when your vision is clear, it’s hard to stop. We came to do things differently, and that initially ruffled a few feathers. However, as we’ve built our path and players have achieved—or even surpassed—their goals, that has strengthened our position and opened doors. The biggest challenge is probably still ahead, but we’ve already accomplished a lot over the past few years on the sporting side: from securing the first professional contract for a cadet player in CD Leganés’ history, to managing the first-ever transfer of a player from another club (without naming clubs), and boasting numerous success stories of players we scouted at 15–16 years old and guided to the elite of Spanish football.
**Q: You focus on young players. Beyond talent, what do you look for in them?**
**A:** Our approach is clear: we seek players with “raw material”—as we call those we see as having something special but not yet fully developed—then polish them in both football and mindset to bring out their best version, showcase them effectively, and propel them into professional football. We also look for players who want to keep progressing and improving in both category and football cache. Beyond athletic talent, we prioritize players with high decision-making accuracy, clear room for growth, and the ability to develop an ELITE MINDSET—the capacity to respond to adversity and consistently perform at their best, no matter the stage.
Toni Calvo, of SportySpain
/ SportySpain
**Q: You often talk about values. Which ones are non-negotiable within your agency?**
**A:** We are grounded in values that shape great players and even better people: human touch, closeness, trust, transparency, ambition, hard work, and professionalism. These are the values we demand of players—and also of ourselves.
**Q: How do you work on the personal development of players alongside their sporting careers?**
**A:** We believe continuous improvement as a player is impossible without a solid personal foundation. That’s why we have a sports mental coach—a former professional player—to provide support in this area. This is in addition to our close, 100% knowledge of each athlete’s environment, which is key for day-to-day interaction.
**Q: As a small, growing agency, what sets you apart from the big ones?**
**A:** Closeness. We watch at least 80% of our represented players’ matches each season, either in person or on TV. And personalized work—we’re not the typical agency with 300 players. We work with a number that allows us, as two agents, to give each player the service they deserve: advising them, getting to know them, and presenting them to clubs in the best possible way to achieve their highest performance and best results.
SportySpain works with young players aiming high
/ SportySpain
**Q: How do you build trust with players and families in such a competitive environment?**
**A:** By being ourselves. We are what we say, and we say what we are. Trust isn’t given—it’s earned through actions.
**Q: How**
