Jose Vivieros, grandfather of the current Ballon d’or holder Cristiano Ronaldo has passed away in Perth at the age of 86. The news was announced on Saturday by his daughter and Ronaldo’s mother Dolores via her instagram account.
Vivieros, who worked as a cleaner moved to Australia to find a better life about 20 years ago along with his wife and children.Ronaldo was only nine years old back then.
Ronaldo’s mother, Maria Dolores, decided not to join her parents and siblings, choosing to remain in the family’s modest home in Funchal, the capital of Madeira, while her teenage son established himself with Portugese powerhouse Sporting Lisbon. Dolores still makes her home in Madeira, while her immediate family have long since settled in Yangebup, a suburb of Perth, Australia.
Western Australia boasts a Portuguese population of about 8000 and 85 percent of them are from Madeira, according to the Portuguese consulate in Perth. The Madeirans started arriving in large numbers in the 1950s and many settled in Fremantle as fishermen.
In the month of February,2010, the Portugese island was hit by a landscape and flood which killed more than 40 people, Ronaldo lent his support to relief efforts by announcing his intention to play in a charity match on the Portugese island. He also wore an undershirt emblazoned with 'Madeira', which he revealed from beneath his Real Madrid shirt after scoring a goal against Villareal.
Although they stayed miles and countries apart the relationship was always healthy between Ronaldo and his grandfather. However there was a slight drift between them when the Portuguese Captain told them that he is going to be a father. Vivieros was a very religious person and for him a baby should be brought up by his mother and father, but in the end he greeted his great-grandson with warm acceptance.
Being a football fan himself Vivieros was always very proud of his grandson’s achievements. He also went to Germany to see his grandson play for his nation.
