Ronaldo pays tribute after death of former coach
Cristiano Ronaldo has paid tribute following the death on Tuesday of the coach who discovered him and several other elite Portuguese players.Aurelio da Silva Pereira, who died aged 77, created Sporting Lisbon's recruitment and training department in 1988 and went on to be responsible for the development of some of Portugal's finest players.The list of players he discovered and nurtured includes Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Nani and Ricardo Quaresma."One of the greatest symbols of world training has left us, but his legacy will live on forever," Ronaldo posted, external on social media."I will never stop being grateful for everything he did for me and for so many other players. Until forever, Mr. Aurelio, thank you for everything. Rest in peace."Pereira was partly responsible for Portugal's greatest football achievement, as the Euro 2016-winning squad featured 10 players he helped to discover. That team was nicknamed the 'Aurelios'.In 2017, he received the Medal of Sporting Merit from the City of Lisbon and, in 2018, Uefa distinguished him with the Order of Merit for his contribution to the development of Portuguese and European football."The death of Aurelio Pereira represents an irreparable loss for Portuguese Football," the Portuguese Football Federation said in a statement."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."Sporting - for whom Pereira played and later coached after returning from Lisbon rivals Benfica - named their academy's main pitch after him."He was a master in his field and a person everyone agreed upon," Sporting said in a statement."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 Clube de Portugal."Nani wrote, external on social media: "Thank you for everything. You were a great friend, an excellent human being, who gave me good and important advice. I'll never forget everything I learned from you, my friend."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
29 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Cristiano Ronaldo extends stay in Saudi Arabia with Al Nassr
The deal ties Ronaldo, whose contract was due to expire at the end of June, to the Saudi Pro League team beyond his 42nd birthday. Ronaldo wrote on X: 'A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together.' A new chapter begins. Same passion, same dream. Let's make history together. 🟡🔵 — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) June 26, 2025 A club post announcing the deal said: 'AlNassr Club Company officially signed a contract extension with Cristiano Ronaldo. 'AlNassr captain contract will be valid until 2027.' Ronaldo had posted on social media 'the chapter is over' following Al Nassr's final league game of the season last month. Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at @AlNassrFC until 2027 💛🤩 — AlNassr FC (@AlNassrFC_EN) June 26, 2025 The post fuelled speculation that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner was to leave the Riyadh club. Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in December 2022 as a free agent after leaving Manchester United following a controversial interview in which he criticised the Premier League club. He has scored 99 goals in 111 appearances for Al Nassr and netted 35 last season to win the SPL's golden boot award for top scorer. Ronaldo has scored 938 goals for club and country in his career, needing 62 to reach the four-figure mark. Al Nassr are currently without a manager after parting company with Stefano Pioli on Wednesday. Former AC Milan and Inter boss Pioli, who was appointed in September, led Al Nassr to a third-placed finish in the SPL last season, 13 points behind champions Al Ittihad.
Glasgow Times
30 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Two-year deal gives Cristiano Ronaldo a chance to reach 1,000 career goals
Here, the PA news agency looks at the Portugal international and former Real Madrid and Manchester United star's record of 938 goals to date for club and country. International record-breaker Ronaldo is the record men's international goalscorer (Bradley Collyer/PA) – Ronaldo has the most goals in men's international football with 138. He passed Iran's Ali Daei's previous record of 108 in June 2021. – His 221 caps are also a record number, going past Bader Al Mutawa's 196 for Kuwait in March 2023. – Ronaldo, Lionel Messi (112) and Daei are the only men with a century of international goals, while Ronaldo alone has reached 200 caps. – Minnows Luxembourg are his favourite opponent, with 11 goals. Club football Cristiano Ronaldo has been a prolific scorer for Juventus, Manchester United and Real Madrid (Martin Rickett/Nick Potts/Joe Giddens/PA) – Ronaldo is Real Madrid's record goalscorer with 450, almost 100 clear of second-placed Karim Benzema (354). – He scored those goals in just 438 appearances, giving him a ratio better than a goal per game and an average of exactly 50 in each of his nine seasons. He scored 61 in all competitions in 2014-15 and just one fewer in 2011-12. – Another 145 goals came across his two spells with Manchester United, 118 in his first after joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 and 27 after returning in 2021. – Ronaldo's most prolific United season came in 2007-08, winning the Premier League Golden Boot with 31 goals and scoring 42 in all competitions. – He holds the records for most goals and appearances in the UEFA Champions League, 141 goals in 187 games. He, Messi and Robert Lewandowski are the only players with 100-plus goals in the competition. – Ronaldo is the only player to score in three Champions League finals, and also holds records of 17 goals in a season (2013-14) and scoring in 11 successive appearances. – He netted five goals in all competitions for his first club Sporting Lisbon and 101 in three seasons with Juventus. His last goal of last season was his 800th in club football and his first of the new campaign will be his 100th for Al Nassr. Honours Ronaldo poses with the Ballon d'Or before a game – Ronaldo has won a record five UEFA Champions League titles, four with Real after winning his first with United in 2008. – He has won the Ballon d'Or, awarded to the world's best player, five times – a total exceeded only by Argentina star Messi's eight. Ronaldo was awarded a special award for outstanding career achievement at the 2021 FIFA Best Awards. – His 26 major honours also include seven domestic league titles, three in England with United and two each in Spain and Italy. With Portugal, he won Euro 2016 as well as two Nations League titles. – Ronaldo has won the European Golden Shoe on four occasions and was top scorer at Euro 2020. The 40-year-old's 938 career goals have come in 1,281 senior appearances, with Portugal age-group and Olympic games excluded.
South Wales Argus
30 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Two-year deal gives Cristiano Ronaldo a chance to reach 1,000 career goals
Here, the PA news agency looks at the Portugal international and former Real Madrid and Manchester United star's record of 938 goals to date for club and country. International record-breaker Ronaldo is the record men's international goalscorer (Bradley Collyer/PA) – Ronaldo has the most goals in men's international football with 138. He passed Iran's Ali Daei's previous record of 108 in June 2021. – His 221 caps are also a record number, going past Bader Al Mutawa's 196 for Kuwait in March 2023. – Ronaldo, Lionel Messi (112) and Daei are the only men with a century of international goals, while Ronaldo alone has reached 200 caps. – Minnows Luxembourg are his favourite opponent, with 11 goals. Club football Cristiano Ronaldo has been a prolific scorer for Juventus, Manchester United and Real Madrid (Martin Rickett/Nick Potts/Joe Giddens/PA) – Ronaldo is Real Madrid's record goalscorer with 450, almost 100 clear of second-placed Karim Benzema (354). – He scored those goals in just 438 appearances, giving him a ratio better than a goal per game and an average of exactly 50 in each of his nine seasons. He scored 61 in all competitions in 2014-15 and just one fewer in 2011-12. – Another 145 goals came across his two spells with Manchester United, 118 in his first after joining from Sporting Lisbon in 2003 and 27 after returning in 2021. – Ronaldo's most prolific United season came in 2007-08, winning the Premier League Golden Boot with 31 goals and scoring 42 in all competitions. – He holds the records for most goals and appearances in the UEFA Champions League, 141 goals in 187 games. He, Messi and Robert Lewandowski are the only players with 100-plus goals in the competition. – Ronaldo is the only player to score in three Champions League finals, and also holds records of 17 goals in a season (2013-14) and scoring in 11 successive appearances. – He netted five goals in all competitions for his first club Sporting Lisbon and 101 in three seasons with Juventus. His last goal of last season was his 800th in club football and his first of the new campaign will be his 100th for Al Nassr. Honours Ronaldo poses with the Ballon d'Or before a game – Ronaldo has won a record five UEFA Champions League titles, four with Real after winning his first with United in 2008. – He has won the Ballon d'Or, awarded to the world's best player, five times – a total exceeded only by Argentina star Messi's eight. Ronaldo was awarded a special award for outstanding career achievement at the 2021 FIFA Best Awards. – His 26 major honours also include seven domestic league titles, three in England with United and two each in Spain and Italy. With Portugal, he won Euro 2016 as well as two Nations League titles. – Ronaldo has won the European Golden Shoe on four occasions and was top scorer at Euro 2020. The 40-year-old's 938 career goals have come in 1,281 senior appearances, with Portugal age-group and Olympic games excluded.
