Failing to prepare is preparing to fail, so says the adage. Ryan Bertrand most certainly agrees.
The transition from professional footballer into retirement can be tricky business. For Bertrand, business is the operative word.
The former England international, best remembered for his starring role in Chelsea’s historic Champions League triumph in 2012, is showing the same conviction in his new corporate life as he did during his football career.
‘I had already taken steps towards transitioning away from professional football when I was playing,’ explained Bertrand, who retired in June 2024.
‘I was constantly educating myself and reading. The trajectory of footballers once they leave the game is well documented.
‘That was something I didn’t want, staying ahead of the curve and doing as much business and personal development to prepare for that next move before that day came became a big focus for me.
Ryan Bertrand always considered what he what do after football and founded founded fintech brokerage Silicon Markets with business partner and long-term friend Louis Bell (left) in 2015
Bertrand drinks in Chelsea’s historic 2012 Champions League triumph on an open-top bus alongside Didier Drogba (bottom), Sam Hutchinson (back left) and Gary Cahill (back right)
The defender picked up 19 international caps for England during his illustrious career
‘When the day comes (to retire) it isn’t always graceful, I always wanted the opportunity to finish when I wanted to finish.
‘It got to the point where I was almost looking forward to retirement.
‘Instead of incubating myself in the football world and locking myself away from the real world, I always had the balance.
‘I could occupy my mind into the business world that would prepare me for the next step.
‘Footballers should find the time to expand their mindset with what’s happening in the wider world. Football’s big but the world is far bigger.
‘Being at Chelsea, to all my loans – Bournemouth, Oldham, Norwich, Reading, Forest, Villa back to Chelsea – what I appreciate from my career is how rounded it was.
‘From League One, to the Champions League final, to Wembley to playing for England at the Euros to battling relegation.
‘Perhaps from a personal context it allowed me to have more empathy and objectivity when approaching sports from a business perspective because I could understand what they (the players) are going through.’
Bertrand spent seven years at Southampton and was named in the 2015 PFA team of the year
Bertrand says his numerous loans, including his time at Reading (pictured), have rounded him
The 35-year-old finished his career at Leicester City, announcing his retirement last June
In 2015, Bertrand – together with business partner and long-term friend Louis Bell – founded fintech brokerage Silicon Markets.
Located next door to all-in-one finance app Revolut – now worth an estimated £45billion – Bertrand and Bell witnessed first hand just how rapidly business’ can grow with the right direction.
‘I remember going to China and pitching our business alongside Revolut’s employee Alan Chang,’ recalls Bell.
‘We saw Revolut grow and that was eye opening, great lessons and learning curves.’
Today, alongside Bell, Bertrand runs football talent agency FA Sport that looks after the interests of Chelsea and England defender Levi Colwill and Everton striker Armando Broja among others.
As Bertrand and Bell speaks to Mail Sport about life after football from FA Sport’ HQ in Knightsbridge London, their thrill for the fight is clear.
Bell, himself, has a history in football. He was a former Gillingham youth player before turning his hand to a career in finance and entrepreneurship.
‘The competitiveness is what we thrive on – the challenge is the hurdles we face,’ explained Bell.
Bertrand played alongside a host of stars at Chelsea, including Spain midfielder Juan Mata (pictured) and won the FA Cup and Europa League as well as the Champions League
There was more silverware at Leicester, picking up the Community Shield with Jamie Vardy
Ryan Bertrand was selected for Stuart Pearce’s 2012 Great Britain Olympic squad
‘You do what you’ve got to do. The challenges are the back and forth you have with clubs.
‘I’d be calling Ryan when he was a player during the early hours of the morning.
‘He would call back, we would have an argument. He’d come back with a solution, I’d come back with a solution and we find a middle ground.
‘Like football, that’s competition.’
Indeed, Bertrand, who has an FA Cup, Champions league, Europa League, Community Shield and 19 international caps to his name, insists his achievements in the business world are every bit as profound as his medals.
‘Winning the Champions League was massive for me and it gets bigger the more time passes. But being in the business space it’s you versus everyone – but now you get to decide your purpose,’ said the 35-year-old.
Through FA Sport, Bertrand and Bell played a key role in the crucial appointment of Joe Shields as co-director of recruitment and talent at Chelsea – one of Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali’s key early appointments.
Bertrand also recommended £115million Moises Caicedo and Manchester City player Josko Gvardiol to Premier League sides when both players were available for under £5million.
Since retiring, Bertrand’s attention is fully on football talent agency FA Sport
Bertrand insists his achievements in business are every bit as profound as his medals
Bertrand’s FA Sport continue to look to sign talented young players and expand into Africa
Bell also brokered the transactions for Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Cesare Casadei to Chelsea in the summer of 2022.
The future of the company will see FA Sport continue to look to sign talented young players and expand into Africa, where they intend to open a development centre for elite and amateur athletes.
‘There’s much talent in Africa, we really want to be part of Africa’s development in a sporting context,’ said Bertrand.
‘Developing sports in Africa so people and communities can harness the social and economic benefits that a robust sports landscape can provide.
‘Can we give youngsters a career in football in Europe and beyond? Can we find the next Sadio Mane?’
For now, though, the focus is the current operation heading into the January transfer window.
‘Signing Levi Colwill and Armando Broja at 16, seeing them develop and then having their own ideas on where they wanted to get to – the ambition and determination makes you super proud,’ added Bell.
‘Seeing them play for England and Albania makes you understand why you started – you remember sitting in Cobham and signing them at 16 years old.’
Bertrand adds: ’The secret to our success as an agency is the purpose, we want to help the players, we resonate with the players, the parents and because my experience as a player was rounded so our advice is maybe a bit more relevant.
‘I’ve lived every move. The loans, the move trajectories. I was one of the first players to go out on loan at Chelsea with a view to coming back to play first team: it was me and Jack Cork to Bournemouth.
‘I’ve it lived and breathed it. We know how to identify an elite young athlete, we know the pathway and the moments they need to take to get to the top of their game.
‘There are tough conversations with clubs, but our track record show we have had those conversations with conviction.
‘We have had some instances where we have listened to the club and things haven’t worked out. That’s where we have learned and reinforced our own principles.’