Agustin Herrerin, a legendary figure at Real Madrid for 18 years, was honoured at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu before the match against Levante.
Marcelo and Sergio Ramos welcomed him to the hallowed turf and both embraced Herrerin and helped him take a symbolic kickoff.
He received a warm welcome from the Bernabeu faithful and was given a shirt with his name and number and a small replica of the stadium, in recognition of an exemplary career at the club.
Before leaving the pitch, Julen Lopetegui himself approached Herrerin to kiss him on the forehead, another example of how much the legendary ex-delegate means to all those that have met him.
And surely from a distance, Cristiano Ronaldo will also have joined the tribute because the Portuguese felt a special affection for him.
In fact, whenever Ronaldo won an individual award, he wanted to take a picture with Herrerin.
Real Madrid have paid tribute to a man who won the respect and affection of everyone in his career at the club.