Sky Sports have paid tribute to the late George Scanlon, who passed away aged 82 last week.

Football commentator and columnists Johnny Phillips wrote a piece for Sky Sports regarding the man who helped Manchester United greats Eric Canton and Andrei Kanchelskis settle in England.

Scanlon was a 'football pioneer' and he will be remembered at a service at Evo-Stik Northern Premier League club Marine's home clash with Spennymoor United on Saturday.

Phillips wrote: “The life of one of English football's great pioneers will be celebrated this weekend.

“He worked with the USSR during the 1966 World Cup, then with England at Italia '90. He sat on the bench during Aston Villa's glorious European Cup campaign of 1982, he became a close confidant of Manchester United greats Eric Cantona and Andrei Kanchelskis and he was the inspiration for the likes of Jose Mourinho in the modern era.

“George Scanlon died last week at the age of 82. He was a hugely gifted linguist who used his talents to become a skilled interpreter and advisor for some of Europe's great football teams.

“Scanlon worked with many of the game's greats. In more recent years he would give talks to students around the country about his life as a travelling interpreter in football, sharing his experiences of working with some of the game's greatest players, managers and football teams.

“At Marine's Northern Premier League game against Spennymoor United on Saturday there will be a tribute to Scanlon, with family members present to mark the passing of a man who will be fondly remembered at home and abroad; one of football's true pioneers."