Sam Ayoub

{{Short description|Australian rugby league and rugby union sports agent}} {{notability|Sports|date=November 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox person | name = Sam Ayoub | occupation = manager }} '''Sam Ayoub''' is an Australian rugby league manager for players such as Johnathan Thurston and Robbie Farah.<ref name="Australian">{{cite news |last1=Read |first1=Brent |title=Player manager an influential figure |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/player-manager-an-influential-figure/news-story/49e044b5653334a13f1e33c4dff66210?nk=8b17ba3e7015edef54ce611746ace3cf-1539050725 |accessdate=9 October 2018 |publisher=The Australian |date=March 3, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Weidler">{{cite news |last1=Weidler |first1=Danny |title=Canterbury Bulldogs firm as next home as Kieran Foran takes on Sam Ayoub as manager |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/canterbury-bulldogs-firm-as-next-home-as-kieran-foran-takes-on-sam-ayoub-as-manager-20170408-gvgu0b.html |accessdate=9 October 2018 |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=8 April 2017 |language=en}}</ref> He established Ultra Management (Sports) in 1988 where he is still a director.

Ayoub was one of the first player managers in the Australian Rugby League and has been called "one of the game's most powerful."<ref name=read>{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/player-manager-an-influential-figure/news-story/49e044b5653334a13f1e33c4dff66210|title=Player manager an influential figure|first=Brent|last=Read|date=4 March 2011|work=The Australian|accessdate=27 February 2020}}</ref> One of his first clients, Adrian Lam, was his former touch football teammate.<ref name=read/>

In 2005, Ayoub was banned by the Australian Touch Football Association for abusing officials while he was coach of the Australian men's under-20 team.<ref name=read/> In 2011, he was caught up in an investigation into suspicious betting activity.<ref name=read/> In March 2011, Ayoub and his client Ryan Tandy were arrested and Ayoub and former player John Elias were charged by police with "attempt to obtain financial advantage by deception" after admitting to betting on his client's game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/nrl/sam-ayoub-sticks-by-his-bets-story/news-story/1930757ee06ca982fd786365ce0c5bc6?sv=78d1d8a54e4c0c9ac63f9abc7efe29f0|title=Sam Ayoub sticks by his bets story|first=Andrew|last=Webster|work=Daily Telegraph|publisher=The Advertiser|date=3 March 2011|accessdate=27 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/agent-sam-ayoub-arrested-over-bet-scandal/news-story/d98c52fc10714784624932357b21c6b7|title=Agent Sam Ayoub arrested over bet scandal|work=The Australian|first=Brent|last=Read|date=4 March 2011|accessdate=27 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/revealed-how-ayoub-and-pool-man-are-linked-20110316-1bxcx.html|title=Revealed: how Ayoub and pool man are linked|date=17 March 2011|first=Chris|last=Barrett|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=27 February 2020}}</ref> Tandy was found guilty of match fixing,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/ryan-tandy-nrl-match-fixing-scandal-court-case/news-story/207a9bde6b09a4a7cbe255a527ad388c|title=Ryan Tandy found guilty of trying to fix 2010 match between Canterbury Bulldogs and North Queensland Cowboys.|first=Lisa|last=Davies|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=6 October 2011|accessdate=27 February 2020}}</ref> but the charges against Ayoub were dismissed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/rugby-league-match-fixing-charges-dismissed/news-story/48519799e3798720cc5a712a55cb38cf|title=Match fixing charges against rugby league player manager Sam Ayoub dismissed|first=Chris|last=Garry|work=The Courier Mail|date=19 May 2012|accessdate=27 February 2020}}</ref>

Ayoub was investigated by police again in 2016 after allegations of NRL salary cap breaches by the Parramatta Eels.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/up-to-10-nrl-player-managers-face-possible-criminal-prosecution-after-police-raids-20161023-gs8hs2.html|title=Up to 10 NRL player managers face possible criminal prosecution after police raids|first=Roy|last=Masters|date=23 October 2016|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=27 February 2020}}</ref>

In 2019, Ayoub took two former employees to court, alleging they tried to poach 16 of his clients by amending their contracts without his knowledge while working for him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/top-nrl-player-agent-ayoub-takes-former-employees-to-court-20191001-p52woz.html|title=Top NRL player agent Ayoub takes former employees to court|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Sam|last=Phillips|date=1 October 2019|accessdate=27 February 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/raiders-rookie-hudson-young-caught-in-bitter-management-row-involving-top-player-agent-sam-ayoub/news-story/4560305a016c6a0fc2debd416ab75ee8|title=Raiders rookie Hudson Young caught in bitter management row involving top player agent Sam Ayoub|work=Fox Sports|date=2 October 2019|accessdate=27 February 2020}}</ref> During cross examination, it was revealed that Ayoub sent numerous abusive and harassing messages to his former employees due to this discovery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/rotten-dog-court-hears-player-agent-ayoub-s-explosive-texts-to-ex-employee-20191002-p52x30.html|title='Rotten dog': Court hears player agent Ayoub's explosive texts to ex-employee|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Sam|last=Phillips|date=2 October 2019|accessdate=28 February 2020}}</ref> Ayoub won the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lawyerly.com.au/top-nrl-player-agent-sam-ayoub-wins-case-against-protege-who-poached-18-players|title=Top NRL Player Agent Sam Ayoub wins case against protege who placed 18 players|first=Christine|last=Caulfield|work=Lawyerly|date=28 January 2020|accessdate=27 February 2020}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ayoub, Sam}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:Australian company founders Category:Australian sports agents