‘His legacy will live on’ – Cristiano Ronaldo pays emotional tribute as scout who discovered him and Luis Figo dies
THE legendary scout who discovered football greats Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo has passed away aged 77.
Aurelio Pereira, the former head of Sporting Lisbon’s recruitment department, died today, the Portuguese club have confirmed.
A club statement read: “Sporting Clube de Portugal expresses its condolences on the death of Aurelio da Silva Pereira, the unmistakable, Mr. Formation.
“He will forever be remembered as one of the greatest names in the history of national football and, above all, in the history of Sporting.”
Born in Lisbon in 1947, Pereira joined Sporting as a youth player, before later signing for Operario FC and Benfica.
After a short stint as a salesman, Pereira was persuaded into helping his brother coach at Benfica– where he went onto lead his sides to several championships.
He was then invited back to Sporting by club icon Hilario, where he would remain for two decades as a youth team coach.
And in July 1988, he opened the Recruitment and Training Department of Sporting CP to develop a national network of scouts to identify young talent.
And the rest history. Pereira went on to discover 2000 Ballon d’Or winner Figo and five-time Ballon d’Or superstar Ronaldo.
The Manchester United and Real Madrid legend was among the first to send his heartfelt condolences and thanked Pereira for his career.
Taking to Instagram, Ronaldo wrote: “One of the great icons of world. Formation has left us but his legacy will live on forever.
“Will never stop being grateful for all he has done for me and so many other players. Forever, Lord Aurelius, thank you for everything. Rest in peace.”
Pereira first noticed Ronaldo’s promise while he was still playing for Nacional in Madeira.
He later brought him to Sporting at 12, where Ronaldo began to thrive in a green-and-white jersey before making a high-profile move to Manchester at the age of 18.
Sir Alex Ferguson signed Ronaldo after watching him shine in a pre-season friendly against his Man Utd side in 2003.
Ronaldo became the talk of the United dressing room, before the club agreed to pay Sporting £12million for what Fergie considered to be “one of the most exciting young players” he had ever seen.
Pereira also was credited for finding Paulo Futre, Simao Sabrosa, Ricardo Quaresma and former Man Utd winger Nani.
Meanwhile, Portugal’s Euro 2016-winning squad featured 10 players unearthed by him.
The Portuguese FA’s statement read: “The death of Aurelio Pereira represents an irreparable loss for Portuguese Football.
“For history, in addition to the enormous legacy built by the man who discovered some of the best players in our history, there will be a kind person, of fine treatment and who always defended our talent.”
In September 2012, Sporting named the club’s academy pitch in his honour.
And five years later in January 2017, he was awarded the City of Lisbon Sports Merit Medal.
His brother Carlos played for Sporting for 13 years years and was Paulo Bento’s No 2 between October 2005 and November 2009.