FIA Football & Management
Elite Career Management
UAE €27mm
Key Facts
Also known as: FIA Football; FIA Dubai – Management & Consultancy
Founded: 2009
Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Players: 30 (1st tier: 6) – Total market value: approx. €27mm
FIFA/FA registration: FIFA-licensed agents – Hugo Cajuda, David Abreu, Eduardo Oliveira
Languages: Portuguese, English, Spanish
Regions covered: Europe, South America, Middle East, Asia (operations in 25+ countries)
Email: info.fiafootball@gmail.com
Phone: +971 551314864
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/__fia__football__/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fia.football
About
FIA Football Management is a Dubai-based agency specialising in the long-term management of elite coaches and professional players, with a strong footprint across Brazil, Portugal, the wider European market and the Gulf region. Founded in 2009, the firm has executed deals in 25+ countries and worked with hundreds of top clubs, with a particular emphasis on Asian, European and South American markets.
The agency combines classic representation with in-house legal, financial and media support, positioning itself as a “360°” career-management partner for both established names and high-potential youth prospects. Its portfolio today is weighted slightly towards top-level coaches, complemented by a growing group of players already competing in Serie A, the Portuguese Primeira Liga and European competitions.
Key People
CEO/Founder:
Hugo Cajuda – CEO & Founder; FIFA-licensed agent leading global strategy, coach portfolio and high-value negotiations.
Managing Director / Head of Football:
No separate title publicly listed – football operations and deal strategy are led by CEO & Founder Hugo Cajuda, supported by senior FIFA agents David Abreu and Eduardo Oliveira.
Licensed agents:
Hugo Cajuda – FIFA Agent
David Abreu – FIFA Agent
Eduardo Oliveira – FIFA Agent
Client Roster
(players – full name, current club, date of birth)
Top players (current)
Vitinha (Genoa) – Date of birth: 15 March 2000
Francisco Moura (FC Porto) – Date of birth: 16 August 1999
Leandro Andrade (Qarabag) – Date of birth: 24 September 1999
Fábio Vianna (Sepsi OSK) – Date of birth: 8 October 1998
Léo (FC Felgueiras 1932) – Date of birth: 18 July 1999
Rising talents / U23
Guilherme Neiva (AVS Futebol SAD) – Date of birth: 15 March 2001
Jonas Ferreira (FC Famalicão U23) – Date of birth: 15 June 2006
Manu Teixeira (Gil Vicente J19) – Date of birth: 30 April 2007
Tiago Baptista (Nõmme Kalju) – Date of birth: 18 March 2006
Ricardo Martins (AD Limianos) – Date of birth: 1 September 2005
Notable former clients
Not publicly disclosed – the agency’s public focus is on current portfolio; historical player and coach relationships are not systematically listed.
Coaches/Staff represented (selected)
Abel Ferreira (Palmeiras – head coach)
Artur Jorge (Al-Rayyan – head coach)
Leonardo Jardim (Cruzeiro – head coach)
Paulo Sousa (Shabab Al Ahli – head coach)
Ricardo Sá Pinto (Esteghlal – head coach)
José Morais (Al Wahda – head coach)
Aitor Karanka (Director of Development / technical consultant)
Martín Anselmi (head coach – currently without club)
Petit (manager – currently without club)
Rui Bento (former Kuwait national team head coach)
Notable Deals
2020 – Abel Ferreira from PAOK to Palmeiras – Coaching appointment with a significant compensation package from Palmeiras to PAOK and a multi-year deal that was later extended after back-to-back Copa Libertadores titles.
2021/22 – Paulo Sousa from Poland national team to Flamengo – Coaching move including Flamengo paying a reported release clause to the Polish FA and agreeing a multi-year contract in Brazil’s Serie A.
2022–2024 – Abel Ferreira contract renewals with Palmeiras – Multiple extensions negotiated as Abel became one of Brazil’s most decorated foreign coaches, securing Libertadores and domestic titles and improved long-term terms.
2024 – Vitinha from Marseille to Genoa (after loan) – Permanent transfer to Genoa for a reported €16m plus add-ons, with a buy-back option in favour of Marseille.
2024 – Artur Jorge to Botafogo – Appointment that led to Botafogo’s historic 2024 season, winning both Copa Libertadores and Brasileirão and reinforcing FIA’s profile in Brazil.
2025 – Artur Jorge from Botafogo to Al-Rayyan – Coaching move following a title-winning year in Brazil, with a contract running to 2027 in the Qatar Stars League.
2025 – Leonardo Jardim to Cruzeiro – High-profile appointment of the former Monaco and Al-Hilal coach to Cruzeiro with a contract reportedly running to 2026.
2025 – José Morais to Al Wahda – Appointment to lead Al Wahda’s first team for the 2025/26 season in UAE Pro League.
Services
FIA lists a broad, integrated service suite:
Representation
Full career management for professional players and coaches – contract negotiations, transfer strategy, mentoring and close cooperation with families.
Brokering
Acting as intermediaries for players, other agents or clubs to structure and close transfers and coaching appointments.
Commercial & image rights
Negotiation of sponsorships and commercial partnerships, including management of image-rights structures.
Real estate support
Assistance with property-related matters in key markets as part of relocation and long-term planning.
Legal advice
In-house and external legal counsel, including contract review and dispute support, in cooperation with specialised law firms.
Financial & tax advice
Tax planning, financial advisory and long-term wealth-management coordination.
Digital media & PR
Social and digital media strategy, content and positioning via in-house capability and specialist partners.
Press office & communications
Management of media relations, interviews and crisis communications.
Partner Network
Clubs and federations
Working relationships with clubs in Portugal, Brazil, Azerbaijan, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, plus contacts with federations across Europe, Asia and South America.
Academies and youth structures
Links to leading Portuguese and Brazilian academies and to youth programmes at clubs like Famalicão, Gil Vicente and others where FIA-represented youngsters are placed.
Legal and tax partners
External law firms and tax specialists in Europe and the Gulf supporting cross-border transfers and structuring.
Performance, medical and lifestyle
Local networks of physios, fitness coaches and relocation providers in Portugal, Brazil and the UAE.
Marketing, media and digital
Specialist agencies and content partners supporting branding for elite coaches and players.
Track Record (last 3 seasons)
Total transfers completed:
Not publicly disclosed – the agency highlights a high volume of deals worldwide, with confirmed activity in Europe, South America and the Middle East across both players and coaches.
Deals ≥ €10m:
At least one confirmed player transfer in this bracket (Vitinha to Genoa), alongside several high-value coaching appointments in top leagues.
Clients in top-5 leagues:
Yes – includes Vitinha at Genoa in Serie A and coaches who have managed in top-5 European leagues (for example through previous roles in La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1 and the Premier League).
National team clients:
Yes – current and past clients include national-team head coaches and players with senior or youth national-team caps.
Renewal/extension deals:
Notable long-term renewals for elite coaches, including Abel Ferreira’s extensions at Palmeiras after multiple Libertadores and domestic titles.
Approach & Philosophy
FIA positions itself around “Excellence in Career Management”, combining sustained trust with sustainable growth. The mission statement emphasises competence, professionalism, commitment and honesty, with a clear focus on long-term relationships rather than one-off deals.
Scouting and recruitment are built around both high-impact coaches and carefully selected youth prospects, often from Portuguese, Brazilian and broader Lusophone pathways, with an eye on placement in strong development environments and competitive senior leagues. Negotiation style is described as fact-based and transparent, aiming to maximise earnings while ensuring clubs and clients take decisions on realistic, data-driven scenarios.
Fees & Transparency
Commission ranges
FIA does not publish standard fee tables. As a FIFA-licensed agency, commissions are structured case-by-case within the ceilings and guidelines set by FIFA’s agents regulations and national intermediary rules.
Dual representation
No explicit public policy, but the emphasis on honesty suggests that any dual-representation scenarios are handled with disclosure and regulatory compliance.
Image rights & commercial income
The agency works on both primary playing/coaching contracts and commercial/image-rights deals, typically structuring separate agreements where necessary in line with local tax and legal frameworks.
Compliance & Reputation
Disciplinary actions / sanctions:
No public record of disciplinary sanctions or bans involving FIA Football or its named agents.
Litigation / disputes:
No significant litigation involving FIA Football that is publicly documented in mainstream or industry media.
Media sentiment:
Generally positive to neutral – coverage mainly highlights the success of agency-represented coaches and the globalisation of Portuguese coaching, with FIA often referenced in the background as agent or facilitator.
Awards/recognition
Formal agency awards:
None publicly listed specifically for FIA Football as an organisation.
Client honours reflecting agency profile (selected):
Abel Ferreira – multiple Copa Libertadores titles and domestic trophies with Palmeiras, plus several coach-of-the-year-type awards.
Artur Jorge – Copa Libertadores and Brasileirão titles with Botafogo and participation in the Intercontinental Cup.
These coach achievements significantly reinforce FIA’s positioning as a go-to agency for elite managers in South America, Europe and the Middle East.
