Argentine native Mario Degl’Innocenti, a former agent of many players in the original North American Soccer League, has passed away.

United Soccer League founder Francisco Marcos, who worked in the front office of the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Dallas Tornado, announced Degl’Innocenti’s death on his Facebook page Tuesday morning.

Degl’Innocenti passed away from COVID-19, Marcos said.

Marcos said Degl’Innocenti “was perhaps the first Argentine agent of any impact in the original NASL.” He cited several players the agent brought into the league, including Juan Carlos Michia, Carlos Babington, Roberto Alonzo, Mario Marazco and Omar Gomez.

“A pro himself at Racing Buenos Aires, above all a great guy,” Marcos wrote. “He’ll be sorely missed. … RIP my friend from the pampas.”

Front Row Soccer editor Michael Lewis has covered 13 World Cups (eight men, five women), seven Olympics and 25 MLS Cups. He has written about New York City FC, New York Cosmos, the New York Red Bulls and both U.S. national teams for Newsday and has penned a soccer history column for the Guardian.com. Lewis, who has been honored by the Press Club of Long Island and National Soccer Coaches Association of America, is the former editor of BigAppleSoccer.com. He has written seven books about the beautiful game and has published ALIVE AND KICKING The incredible but true story of the Rochester Lancers. It is available at Amazon.com.