Fiorentina President Commisso dies aged 76

Fiorentina have announced the passing of their President, Rocco Commisso, aged 76.

Rocco Commisso, President of Serie A club Fiorentina, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Mediacom, has died.

The Serie A side announced their President’s passing in a statement on Saturday morning.

“With great pain and sadness, the Commisso family, together with his wife Catherine, children Giuseppe and Marisa, and sisters Italia and Raffaelina, announce the passing of President Rocco B. Commisso,” the Tuscans said.

“After a prolonged period of medical treatment, our beloved President has left us, and today we all mourn his passing. For his family, he was an example and a guiding light, a loyal and faithful man who, alongside his wife Catherine, reached the milestone of 50 years of marriage, and who was a strict yet loving father to his children, just as his character was: gentle and determined. 

“His love for Fiorentina was the greatest gift he gave himself, spending unforgettable days with the boys and girls of the youth teams, always offering a caring gesture and a smile to everyone. Tireless, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to his companies, Mediacom and Fiorentina, and to their future.” 

Commisso bought Fiorentina from the Della Valle Family in 2019 for an estimated fee between $150m and $170m. Commisso also had a majority stake in MLS side New York Cosmos.

During his time as the Fiorentina President, Commisso tried hard to build a new stadium for the Viola, clashing with Italian bureaucracy.

Eventually, he gave Fiorentina a new training centre, one of the biggest and most advanced in Europe.

“Football was his passion, and Fiorentina became so seven years ago, when Rocco took charge of the Viola club and began to love its supporters, its colors, and the city of Florence. “Call me Rocco,” he had simply said to everyone, with his extraordinary empathy,” Fiorentina continued.

“He was always close to Florence and the Florentines, in everyday life and also during the most difficult period of the Covid emergency, when the “Forza e Cuore” campaign provided substantial donations to the city’s hospitals.”

On the pitch, the Tuscans reached one Coppa Italia Final and two Conference League Finals during Commisso’s reign.

“The Rocco B. Commisso Viola Park, the home of Fiorentina, will live forever bearing his name—an indelible symbol of his affection and his desire to look toward the future of young people,” the Tuscans concluded.

“The boys and girls who grew up under his guidance in the youth academy have won trophies and continue their journey with Fiorentina’s men’s and women’s first teams. Under his leadership, Fiorentina reached two UEFA Conference League finals and one Coppa Italia final. 

“The Commisso family wishes to thank all those who stood by him during these delicate moments and is certain that the memory of Rocco will remain forever in the hearts of the many people who loved him and who shared both difficult and beautiful moments with him. 

“A heartfelt thought in this moment of great sadness goes to everyone at Fiorentina—staff, players, and employees—to all those who knew Rocco, to the entire Viola community, and above all to all the boys and girls who will continue to carry the Viola colors and the memory of our Rocco throughout Italy and the world. 

“We miss you and we will miss you always.”

Fiorentina will play their next game tomorrow, away at Bologna. Just a few days ago, the Tuscans confirmed the appointment of Fabio Paratici as their new sporting director, effective on February 4.