INTERNATIONAL SWIMMER, SPORTS journalist, opera singer, talented linguist and renowned agent, Athole Still is a man of many parts but has forced his way into the consciousness only through representing Sven-Göran Eriksson. However, his other clients have been almost as celebrated: Sir Steve Redgrave, Sir Matthew Pinsent, Duncan Goodhew, Sharron Davies and John Barnes.
Born in Aberdeen, he was a swimming international for ten years, winning a silver medal in the 1958 Empire Games in the 4 x 220 yards freestyle relay for Scotland. He then became an opera singer, performing at Glyndebourne, a career that he combined with being the swimming correspondent of The Times and The Sunday Times. However, after retiring, he began representing both sports people and singers.
It was the link with Barnes that provided an introduction to Eriksson, when the England forward was in talks with AS Roma, then being managed by the Swede. When Eriksson’s agent died, Still was invited to replace him. After Kevin Keegan’s resignation in October 2000, Still immediately made the fateful phone call to Eriksson that ended with the Swede becoming the first foreigner to manage England.