The 'master' Aurelio died today, aged 77. Once again and as always, far from the limelight, but with many stars, identified by him, eternalizing his legacy in the formation of the 'leonino' club.
He was born on 1 October 1947 in Alfama and lived in Beco dos Paus in Lisbon until his family moved to the neighbouring municipality of Amadora and Venda Nova.
Although they were always present in his life, Aurelio's relationship with Sporting became official in August 1963, when he 'stayed' at the club's academy, thanks to his tall stature - which he contradicted by implementing the motto that "talent has no size".
The first player he took to Sporting was, a few days later, his brother Carlos, two years younger, who made a career as the club's left-back and won two Portuguese Cups and a league title as a player, as well as many more as a coach at youth level and Paulo Bento's assistant in the first team.
Carlos Pereira's appointment as Hilario's replacement in the first team led to the rise of Aurelio, who, after being dismissed from Sporting, still wore the shirts of Lisbon clubs such as Operário and Futebol Benfica, with the latter taking over as coach of the senior team (1972/73).
"Why don't you take the job? You think you know and that you're a coach," recalled Aurelio Pereira, about his brother's provocation regarding his succession at 'Fofo'.
Shortly afterwards, it was Hilario again, with Mario Lino's consent, who opened the doors for him, this time at Sporting, where he coached the youth team in 1973/74.
Afterwards, he was at the origin of tournaments with neighbourhood teams, Onda Verde and Sporting 1.000, and of the appeal to the members of the 'leonino' club to discover potential stars, in which Paulo Futre, then eight years old, emerged among kids aged 10 and 11.
On 2 August 1988, he transformed Sporting's recruitment and training department, launching an appeal to Sporting's 90,000 members to discover potential stars, creating the largest national network of scouts.
Once the 'targets' had been identified, Aurelio Pereira took on the "joy" of observing the discoveries, relying on his experience, behaviour and kindness to secure the signings with the parents of the children and future 'stars'.
Futre, Silver Ball winner in 1987, Figo, Golden Ball winner in 2000, and, above all, Cristiano Ronaldo, Golden Ball winner in 2008, 2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017, were Aurelio Pereira's crowning glory. Moreover his legacy is much greater, with the discovery of 62 players who made it to the Portugal senior team.
These include talents such as Litos, Carlos Xavier, Jorge Cadete, Paulo Torres, Luis Boa Morte, Simao Sabrosa, Hugo Viana and Dani, or 10 of the winners of the main national team title, Euro 2016, such as Rui Patricio, William Carvalho, Adrien and Joao Mario, Cedric Soares, Jose Fonte, Joao Moutinho, Ricardo Quaresma, Nani and, of course, Cristiano Ronaldo - baptised by the then 'leonino' president Bruno de Carvalho as 'Os Aurélios'.
The 'talent scout's' connection to Sporting was only broken with the election of the 'moustachioed' Jorge Goncalves to the presidency on 24 June 1988, but was re-established less than a year later with the rise of Sousa Cintra in May 1989.
"Sporting doesn't owe me anything, I owe Sporting everything," said Aurelio Pereira on 22 January 2024, when the board led by Frederico Varandas paid tribute to him in an initiative organised to the surprise of 'Mr. Training' himself.
The main pitch at the Sporting Academy in Alcochete bears his name, and he was also awarded the Medal of Sporting Merit of the city of Lisbon in January 2017 and the UEFA Order of Merit in February 2018.