About
Progento Sport Management Agency
Progento is an international sports management agency which helps players, clubs and agents through the guidance and adaptation of ‘’Latin American’’ football players to a new cultural environment. Progento & LCO Partners believe that a pleasant and social environment positively contributes to athletic performance.
Our experience with the cultures of Latin America, Western Europe and 25 years of experience preparation work for cross-border assignments, provides us with the tools and abilities to guide and accompany Latin American soccer players* during their transition to foreign teams where there is a strong demand for cultural, personal, social and athletic adaptation.
Personal connections, and knowledge of various cultures is essential. Cooperation between players, family members and Progento is very important for us. We promise to provide open, honest, and transparent communication. Together with loyalty, these are the core values of the company.
About us
Roland Slangenberg is a team player who understands different perspectives and interests of others. Roland has spent time among different cultures which has helped him gain an understanding of international relationships. Roland has a passion for sports, Latin-America, and entrepreneurship, which led to the study of Sports & Management in Groningen, The Nether- lands. As a result, he decided to create a company which acknowledges the importance of internationalism, sports, and entrepreneurship.
Roland has graduated as top of his class during the FIFA/CIES Executive Programme in Sports Management in Quito, Ecuador (2020). As his final project he researched the challenges Latin American football players encounter during their relocation to foreign countries.
In 2016 he received his certificate as UEFA C coach from the Dutch football federation (KNVB). As a youth coach Roland has more than 15 years of experience.
Roland has also spent considerable time reading and studying (sport) psychology, talent development, player wellbeing and cultural differences.
Progento & LCO Partners are a unique company in its class. A company where guidance in the transition and adaptation to a new cultural environment stands central. Guidance focused on cultural, social, personal and sporting areas.
Fernando Lanzer is a consultant and facilitator in leadership, culture and organization development.
For 15 years up to 2007 he filled different roles at ABN AMRO Bank, in Latin America (HR Director) and in Amsterdam (Executive Vice President, Group Head of Leadership Development and Learning). Prior, he worked as Head of HR and OD at Banco Iochpe/Bankers Trust NY and CHRO at Banco Sulbrasileiro.
As a management consultant he holds 17 years of experience with organizations from different industries, mostly on Executive Education, Organizational Culture and Cross-Culture Management. He is a chartered psychologist specializing in Organization Development and he chaired the Supervisory Group of AIESEC International, the world’s largest student-led international internships organization. He also served on the Board of Trustees of ISA, the International School of Amsterdam, until 2020.
Fernando is Brazilian and Dutch, the author of many articles in Portuguese and English, and of the books “Take Off Your Glasses” (2012); “The Meaning Tree” and “Bedtime Stories for Corporate Executives” (2015); Trust Me (with Reynold Chandansingh) and “Leading Across Cultures in Practice, (2016); and “Organizational Culture and Climate (2018).
Why us?
It can be difficult for young players to move to a country with a different language and culture and to be far away from family and friends. This drastic change may negatively affect athletic performance, and it is precisely for this reason that Progento & LCO Partners believe that social and personal guidance is critical. Why choose us?
1.Our holistic approach in the transition, adaptation and well-being of a player in relation to a new cultural environment is based on three phases and four levels, which will result in a successful cultural, social, personal and sporting adaptation.
2. On average professional footballers experience around six job relocations as they aim to advance in their careers, with 40% of the players frequently crossing borders on those transfers.
3. Players need at least 6 months to adapt to their new environment.
4. 66% of the Latin American players will return to their native country or other club within a year without the proper guidance.
5. Players may experience a ‘Culture Shock’, something that will affect sports performance if they are not guided through this.
What can I expect from the work of Progento?
A long-term sustainable cooperation that focuses on complete transparency, honesty, reliability, and loyalty in our work.
Our mission is to create a pleasant and safe social environment that contributes to good sports performance.
Our service is to prepare, guide and assist the players (and their families) who move to their new environment during their adjustment process.