Born and raised in Hanover, Germany, as the child of Turkish immigrants, Dr. Erkut Sogut, LLM, studied law before earning two master’s degrees and a doctorate in sports law. His academic journey, guided by a lifelong passion for teaching and learning, has made him one of the most unique experts in his field.

Today, he is recognized as a leading authority on football contracts and negotiation, combining legal scholarship with practical experience across the global sports industry.

For over a decade, Dr. Sogut lived and worked in the United Kingdom, following earlier years in the German-speaking market. During this time, he represented athletes at the highest level in football, basketball, and hockey, gaining first-hand experience in contract negotiations, career management, and international transfers.

He also co-founded and served as President of the world’s largest association of football agents, creating a global platform for education, ethics, and collaboration.

In the summer of 2022, he relocated with his family to Orange County, California, where he has focused on building two major ventures; he is the founder of Pitchside, an international executive search company placing CEOs and senior leaders into football clubs and federations, and the founder of The Football Week, a global football media and publishing company.

Through its weekly magazines and its platform thefootballweek.com, Dr. Sogut now reaches millions of readers in over 100 countries, publishing content and books in English, German, Turkish, and Spanish, he connects with a truly international audience, bringing insights and perspectives to every corner of the game.

Alongside his entrepreneurial work, Dr. Sogut is an Adjunct Professor of Sports Law, Sports Marketing, and Sports Management.

He has delivered lectures in more than 25 countries at leading institutions including Harvard Business School, UC Berkeley, Penn State, UCLA, NYU, Bayreuth University in Germany, Durham University in the UK, Bilgi University in Turkey, Anáhuac University in Mexico, the Institute of Sport in Cali, Colombia, and Accra Law School in Ghana.

He is also a regular speaker and moderator at major industry conferences such as Soccerex, the World Football Summit, and the Football Forum.

A prolific author, he has published more than 15 books in four languages, ranging from women’s football to leadership, law, and the business of sport.

He is also the author of three novels—Deadline, Remember My Name, and Shattered Pitches—a series that follows a journalist uncovering the dark side of football.

Through both his academic and creative writing, Dr. Sogut opens windows into the realities of the global game.

At the heart of his journey is a simple belief:

True success comes from creating value for others.

Whether through education, representation, or storytelling, Dr. Erkut Sogut continues to inspire and lead the global football community—on and off the pitch.

He lives with his wife and two sons in Orange County, California.

SPORTS AGENT LICENCES

• Football (FA)
• Basketball (FIBA)
• Hockey (DEL)

LANGUAGES

• English
• German
• Turkish
• Spanish

EDUCATION

2001-2007 – Law Degree – Osnabrück University (Germany) with 1 year Erasmus at Dokuz Eylül University (Turkey)

2009-2013 – Doctor of Law (J.D.) PhD, Dr. iur, Sports Law – Osnabrück University (Germany)

2010-2011 – Sports law and sports management – Kadir Has University (Turkey)

2011-2012 – Master of Laws (LL.M.), International Law and Legal Studies – İstanbul Kültür University (Turkey)

2011-2012 – Master of Laws (LL.M.), International Law and Legal Studies – Ruhr University Bochum (Germany)