The president of Fiorentina Football Club, Rocco Commisso, has died at the age of 76.
Commisso died under intensive care during his battle with a prolonged illness, the Fiorentina board disclosed while announcing his passing.
According to a statement published on its website, the Serie A club described Commisso’s death a painful loss for his family, the club and the wider football community.
In more tribute, the management stressed that the Septuagenarian was a devoted family man in his 50 years wedlock, and a guiding figure to those around him.
The club held that the American-Italian businessman, in his seven year reign as the president became closely identified with the club, its supporters and the city of Florence.
It also stated that the side, under his leadership, reached two UEFA Conference League finals and one Coppa Italia final.
“After a prolonged period of medical treatment, our beloved President has left us, and today we all mourn his passing,” the statement released on Saturday begin.
“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. 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 colours, and the city of Florence. ‘Call me Rocco,’ he had simply said to everyone, with his extraordinary empathy.
“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,” the statement continued.
“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 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,” the statement added.
The club emphasized that the Commisso family expressed gratitude to those who supported him during his final days and said his memory would remain alive in the hearts of all who knew and worked with him.
“A heartfelt thought in this moment of great sadness goes to everyone at Fiorentina—staff, players, and employees—to the entire Viola community, and especially to the boys and girls who will continue to carry the Viola colours and the memory of our Rocco throughout Italy and the world,” the statement added.
Commisso is survived by his wife, Catherine, his children, Giuseppe and Marisa, and his sisters, Italia and Raffaelina.
