Legendary Sporting CP scouting director Aurélio Pereira passed away on Tuesday aged 77, the Portuguese club announced.
Responsible for Sporting's youth recruitment since 1988, Pereira brought teenagers Paulo Futre, Luis Figo and Cristiano Ronaldo to the Lisbon outfit.
All three eventually starred for Portugal while Figo and Ronaldo won the Ballon d'Or following moves to clubs abroad.
"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," a Sporting CP statement said of Pereira.