Stijn Francis

Stijn Francis is a FIFA-licensed football agent and founder of Stirr Associates, a respected European player representation and advisory firm. Before entering agency work, Francis enjoyed a professional football career in Belgium with clubs including Westerlo and Oud-Heverlee Leuven and later built a successful career as a business lawyer, practicing at major firms such as Clifford Chance and Nelissen Grade. In 2014 he founded Stirr Associates with a focus on transparent, long-term career management for footballers and advising on transfers, contract negotiations, and financial wellbeing. Francis has been involved in transfer activity for high-profile players such as Dries Mertens and Toby Alderweireld, and his agency is one of the largest football representation firms in Belgium. In addition to his agency work, Francis lectures on sports business topics, acts as an arbitrator for the Belgian Court of Arbitration for Sports, and is the author of The Bankrupt Footballer, a book on managing the business side of a playing career. His work blends legal expertise, player advocacy, and commitment to educating athletes about their long-term financial and professional interests.