Entrepreneurs team up with Grammy-nominated music star to launch sports agency 3 Kingdoms
Two London-based entrepreneurs have teamed with Grammy-nominated singer and producer James Worthy to launch a new sports agency.
Steve Sharpe and Tansel Adacan, who recently featured on ITV1’s Million Pound Pawn, say that 3 Kingdoms Group will be a “next generation” agency that will use data to drive the contract negotiations of its Premier League talent.
The pair only met at a networking event four years ago when Sharpe was working in technology sales and Adacan was Global Systems Director at WPP agency Landor.
After discovering a shared desire to utilise their extensive contacts books and set up on their own, they secured investment from Worthy, best known for his work with music stars including Whitney Houston, Bobby Brown, Fetty Wap and T-Pain.
3 Kingdoms Group will offer services including player management – largely focused on Premier League and MLS footballers – performance analytics, mentorship and education, and strategic brand development.
The agency says it has identified a gap for a more analytical approach to commercial negotiation of the type recently pioneered by Manchester City star Kevin de Bruyne.
“Soccer is an extremely data-rich game because of the number of actions each player makes. However, taking that data and interpreting it completely accurately, then democratising those findings to make them accessible beyond the understanding of statisticians and analysts, is where the value really comes into its own,” said Tansel Adacan, President of Data and Operations at 3 Kingdoms Group.
“With this approach, we help players to achieve stronger bargaining positions by either supporting or challenging any presuppositions or assumptions about the player within the commercial negotiation.”
Located in London, 3 Kingdoms Group is also looking to build its players’ off-the-field business and life skills, providing education for players in finance, legal and media.
“Our players will finish their playing careers with a defined wealth and career plan beyond their playing days and receive individualised support and mentorship which can set them up for a wide range of second careers after soccer in performance, technology, entrepreneurship, all aspects of music, and sports business management,” said Chief Executive Steve Sharpe, who is registered by the Football Association as an Intermediary.
“We are proud to be pioneering an unprecedented commercial resource for the modern generation of soccer players,” added James Worthy, President of International Sports.
Dimi Konstantopoulos, the former Middlesbrough, AEK Athens and Greece footballer, said: “Knowing Steve Sharpe, Managing Director, I know this agency has expert commercial understanding, strong ethics and long-term planning to support their careers during and after football, which is exactly what players need from management agencies.”
ABOUT THE FOUNDERS
James Worthy, Co-Founder and President of International Sports, is a three-time Grammy nominee and Billboard-charting artist who has collaborated with the likes of Fetty Wap, Justin Bieber, Robin S, Truth Hurts, Whitney Houston, J Holiday, Whodini, Bobby Brown and T-Pain. See King James Worthy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingjamesworthy
Steve Sharpe, Co-Founder and Chief Executive, is an FA-licensed Intermediary with a background representing big name US talent for their UK and European projects. He is very present in the high end London social scene, and is known as one of London’s best-connected figures. See Steve Sharpe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharpepics
Tansel Adacan, Co-Founder and President of Data and Operations, was formerly at advertising giant WPP and is an expert in data and analytics. He is also a media personality and has been seen in recent months on BBC, ITV and Channel 4. See Tansel Adacan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adacanpics
More information: https://3kingdoms.group/
Published on PRFIRE