Ton Pronk, the Dutch scout who recommended former Super Eagles heroes Nwankwo Kanu and Finidi George to Ajax Amsterdam, passed away on Friday, August 26 at the age of 75.

The former Netherlands international died in Purmerend due to the effects of a muscle disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Apart from Kanu and Finidi, who both joined Ajax Amsterdam from local Nigerian clubs in 1993, Pronk is credited with the discovery of Litmanen, Cristian Chivu and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

He was appointed chief scout of Louis van Gaal, then coaching Ajax, in 1991.

The Nigerian duo helped Ajax to win the Champions League final in May 1995, with Finidi lasting the distance and Kanu playing the last 37 minutes of the encounter at Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna.

Nwankwo Kanu later represented Inter Milan, Arsenal, West Brom and Portsmouth after his departure from the Dutch club, while Finidi counts Betis, Mallorca and Ipswich Town among his former clubs.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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