Aurelio Pereira was a cornerstone for Sporting, the club close to his heart. He devoted nearly his entire life to unearthing exceptional football talent, some of whom achieved international acclaim, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Luís Figo, and Paulo Futre.
The revered ‘master’ Aurelio passed away today at the age of 77. True to his nature, he remained out of the spotlight, but the stars he identified continue to honour his legacy within the ‘leonino’ club.
Born on 1 October 1947 in Alfama, he spent part of his childhood in Beco dos Paus in Lisbon before his family relocated to the nearby areas of Amadora and Venda Nova.
Aurelio’s journey with Sporting officially began in August 1963 when he joined the club’s academy, a move influenced by his tall stature, which he famously challenged with his belief that “talent knows no size“.
His first recruit for Sporting was his younger brother Carlos, just days later. Carlos went on to make a name for himself as the club’s left-back, winning two Portuguese Cups and a league title as a player, and later achieving even more as a youth coach and Paulo Bento’s assistant in the senior team.
Carlos Pereira’s promotion as Hilario’s successor in the first team positioned Aurelio for greater heights. Even after his departure from Sporting, he continued to contribute to Lisbon clubs like Operário and Futebol Benfica, where he was appointed head coach during the 1972/73 season.
“Why don’t you take the role? You think you know better and consider yourself a coach,” Aurelio recalled, reminiscing about his brother’s teasing concerning his succession at ‘Fofo’.
It was Hilario, with Mario Lino’s endorsement, who later reintroduced Aurelio to Sporting, allowing him to coach the youth team in the 1973/74 season.
Shortly after, he initiated tournaments with local teams, such as Onda Verde and Sporting 1.000, while urging members of the ‘leonino’ club to help uncover hidden gems, leading to the discovery of Paulo Futre, who shone among older kids at just eight years old.
On 2 August 1988, he revolutionised Sporting’s recruitment and training department, calling upon the club’s 90,000 members to assist in identifying future stars and establishing the country’s largest network of scouts.
After pinpointing potential talents, Aurelio took immense pleasure in observing them play, using his expertise, personal touch, and approachability to negotiate signings with the children’s families and their aspiring young athletes.
Futre, the Silver Ball winner in 1987, Figo, the Golden Ball recipient in 2000, and notably, Cristiano Ronaldo, who captured the Golden Ball in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017, stand as testament to Aurelio Pereira’s remarkable legacy. His contributions expanded even further with the emergence of 62 players who went on to represent the Portugal senior team.
These include notable athletes like Litos, Carlos Xavier, Jorge Cadete, Paulo Torres, Luis Boa Morte, Simao Sabrosa, Hugo Viana, and Dani, as well as 10 of the stars that clinched the Euro 2016 title, including Rui Patricio, William Carvalho, Adrien, Joao Mario, Cedric Soares, Jose Fonte, Joao Moutinho, Ricardo Quaresma, Nani, and of course, Cristiano Ronaldo—dubbed ‘Os Aurélios’ by then-president Bruno de Carvalho.
Aurelio’s connection to Sporting was briefly severed following the election of the ‘moustachioed’ Jorge Goncalves as president on 24 June 1988, but it was renewed less than a year later with Sousa Cintra’s arrival in May 1989.
“Sporting doesn’t owe me anything; I owe everything to Sporting,” Aurelio Pereira stated on 22 January 2024, during a tribute organised unexpectedly by the board led by Frederico Varandas.
The main pitch at the Sporting Academy in Alcochete now bears his name, and he was awarded the Medal of Sporting Merit by the city of Lisbon in January 2017, followed by the UEFA Order of Merit in February 2018.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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