Jean-Pierre Bernès
{{short description|French sports agent}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Jean-Pierre Bernès
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| honorific_suffix =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|51|2011|2|24}}
| birth_place = Salon-de-Provence, France
| nationality = French
| residence = Cassis, France
| alma_mater = Sciences Po Aix
| occupation = Football agent
| office = General manager of Olympique de Marseille
| status =
| term_start = 1989
| term_end = 1994
}}
Jean-Pierre Bernès (born 1959/60) is a French football agent and former football executive. He was general manager of Olympique de Marseille from 1989 to 1994, and resigned in the aftermath of the French football bribery scandal. Bernès has been an agent for multiple international footballers including Franck Ribéry and Didier Deschamps.
Personal life
Bernès grew up in Salon-de-Provence. His father was in the military and his mother taught music.{{cite news| url= https://www.liberation.fr/portrait/2008/08/16/retour-au-ballon_78177| title= Retour au ballon|last=Henry| first=Michael| work=Libération| date=16 August 2008| accessdate=21 December 2008}} Bernès is a graduate of Sciences Po Aix.{{cite news| url= https://www.liberation.fr/portrait/2008/08/16/retour-au-ballon_78177|title=Retour au ballon|language=fr|work=Libération|date=16 August 2008| accessdate=21 December 2018}} He currently lives in Cassis, Bouches-du-Rhône.
Career
In 1980, Bernès began selling membership cards for Olympique de Marseille, in order to try and help their financial difficulties. In Autumn 1981, he joined the club working in administration.{{cite book| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=-88JLIHj5RsC&q=Jean-Pierre+Bern%C3%A8s+joined+marseille+1981| title= Histoire secrète de l'OM|language=fr|last=Garcia| first=David| publisher=Groupe Flammarion| isbn=978-2081299573| date=April 2013|access-date=21 December 2018}} In 1989, he became the club's general manager. In 1993, Bernès was involved in the French football bribery scandal. The incident involved bribing three Valenciennes players to underperform in a match against Marseille, so that Marseille could stay fresh for their Champions League final against A.C. Milan.{{cite web| url= https://www.francetvinfo.fr/politique/affaire/bernard-tapie/recit-ils-veulent-qu-on-laisse-filer-le-match-le-20-mai-1993-le-jour-ou-l-om-de-bernard-tapie-a-truque-le-match-contre-valenciennes_2569875.html| title= Le jour où Bernard Tapie a truqué le match Valenciennes-OM|language=fr| last=Brigaudeau| first=Anne| publisher=France Info| accessdate=19 December 2018| date= 20 May 2018}} Bernès was involved in the phone call to arrange the bribe. In July 1993, Bernès left his role at Marseille, due to the scandal.{{cite news| url= https://www.liberation.fr/sports/1996/06/08/jean-pierre-bernes-n-est-plus-banni_175090| title= Jean-Pierre Bernès n'est plus banni| work=Libération| date=8 June 1996| accessdate=5 January 2019}} At the trial, Bernès was given a two-year suspended sentence and a fine.{{cite news| url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/jul/29/the-joy-of-six-sports-executives-who-paid-for-their-crimes-in-prison| title= The Joy of Six: sports executives who paid for their crimes in prison|last=Lengel| first=David| work=The Guardian| date=29 July 2016| accessdate=21 December 2018}} In 1994, Bernès was banned for life by the French Football Federation,{{cite news| url= https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-marseille-are-to-be-relegated-1372037.html| title= Football: Marseille are to be relegated|work=The Independent| date=23 April 1994| accessdate=19 December 2018}} although the ban was overturned by FIFA in 1996.{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/fr/20110825-football-jean-pierre-bernes-le-paria-devenu-agent-millionnaire-scandale-om-valenciennes-samir-nasri-laurent-blanc|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110907073727/http://www.france24.com/fr/20110825-football-jean-pierre-bernes-le-paria-devenu-agent-millionnaire-scandale-om-valenciennes-samir-nasri-laurent-blanc|title=Jean-Pierre Bernès, le paria devenu agent millionnaire|language=fr|work=France24|date=25 August 2011|archive-date=7 September 2011|accessdate=21 December 2018|url-status=live}}
In 1999, Bernès began working as a football agent, working with Zinedine Zidane's agent {{ill|Alain Migliaccio|fr}}.{{cite news| url= https://www.si.com/more-sports/2011/08/19/jean-pierre-bernesfrancesmostpowerfulagent| title= Nasri transfer cements Jean-Pierre Bernes as France's prime operator| last=Lyttleton| first=Ben|work=Sports Illustrated| date=19 August 2011| accessdate=21 December 2018}} In 2007, Bernès became the agent for Franck Ribéry, prior to his €25 million transfer from Marseille to Bayern Munich.{{cite news| url= https://www.eurosport.fr/football/bundesliga/2017-2018/l-ex-agent-de-ribery-lui-reclame-35-millions-d-euros-en-justice_sto6437029/story.shtml| title= L'ex-agent de Franck Ribéry lui réclame 3,5 millions d'euros en justice|language=fr| work=Agence France-Presse| via=Eurosport| date=8 December 2017| accessdate=22 December 2018}} In the same year, he recommended Toifilou Maoulida to Bordeaux manager Laurent Blanc.{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/aug/16/europeanfootball.bordeaux| title= Blanc brings brilliance to Bordeaux|last=Doyle| first=Paul|work=The Guardian| date=16 August 2007| accessdate=22 December 2018}} In 2010, Bernès spoke to his client and Marseille coach Didier Deschamps about signing midfielder Alou Diarra, who was also a client of Bernès.{{cite news| url=https://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100715/football/marseille-coach-deschamps-confirms-diarra-talks.317876| title= Marseille coach Deschamps confirms Diarra talks| work=Times of Malta| date=15 July 2010| accessdate=22 December 2018}} In 2011, Bernès was agent to Samir Nasri when he transferred from Arsenal to Manchester City. In 2016, Bernès worked with Jocelyn Gourvennec whilst he was applying to manage at Nantes.{{cite news| url= https://www.ouest-france.fr/sport/football/fc-nantes/fc-nantes-gourvennec-les-enjeux-d-une-rencontre-cruciale-entre-kita-et-bernes-5773580| title= FC Nantes. Gourvennec : les enjeux d'une rencontre cruciale entre Kita et Bernès|language=fr| last=Boudard| first=Jean-Marcel|work=Ouest-France| date=21 May 2018| accessdate=21 May 2018}} In the same year, Bernès announced Laurent Blanc's departure from Paris Saint-Germain.{{cite news| url= https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jun/20/laurent-blanc-paris-saint-germain-psg-leaves-agent| title= Laurent Blanc to leave PSG before the end of the week, confirms agent|last=Aarons| first=Ed| work=The Guardian| date=20 June 2016| accessdate=21 December 2018}} In 2018, Blanc decided to terminate his contract with Bernès.{{cite news| url= https://www.20minutes.fr/sport/football/2261343-20180425-menage-printemps-laurent-blanc-separe-celebre-agent-jean-pierre-bernes| title= Ménage de printemps: Laurent Blanc se sépare du célèbre agent Jean-Pierre Bernès|work=Agence France-Presse| via=20 minutes|date=25 April 2018|accessdate=21 December 2018}} Other players Bernès has been an agent for include Jérémy Ménez, Jérémy Mathieu, and Jimmy Briand.
Between 2010 and 2013, Bernès made an average of €3.6 million per year, making him the second highest paid agent in European football.{{cite book| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=es5TDAAAQBAJ&q=Jean-Pierre+Bern%C3%A8s+agent| title= Sports Agents and Labour Markets: Evidence from World Football|last1=Rossi| first1= Giambattista| last2=Semens| first2=Anna| last3= Brocard| first3=Jean Francois| publisher=Routledge| date=June 2016| access-date=21 December 2018| isbn= 9781317744801}}{{rp|95}} In 2016, the estimated value of players represented by Bernès was €87 million.{{rp|80}} In 2018, it was suggested that Bernès was in the running for the vacant Lyon sports director role.{{cite news| url= https://www.foot01.com/equipe/ol/ol-jean-pierre-bernes-futur-directeur-sportif-de-l-ol,279675| title=OL : Jean-Pierre Bernès futur directeur sportif de l'OL ?|work=Football001.com| date=21 March 2018| accessdate=21 December 2018}}