ACF Fiorentina have announced the death of club president Rocco Commisso, who passed away at the age of 76 after a prolonged period of medical treatment. The news was confirmed by Fiorentina in an official statement released 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 statement read. “After a long period of care, our beloved President has left us, and today we all mourn his loss.”
Born in Marina di Gioiosa Ionica, in the province of Reggio Calabria, Commisso moved to the United States at the age of 12 to join his father. A lifelong football enthusiast, he first entered the sport as an owner in January 2017 when he acquired a majority stake in the New York Cosmos. On 6 June 2019, he officially became the owner and president of Fiorentina, beginning a new era for the Florence-based club.
In a heartfelt tribute, the Commisso family described him as a loyal, principled man and a devoted husband and father, noting that he and his wife Catherine, had recently celebrated 50 years of marriage. They highlighted his deep affection for Fiorentina, recalling how he spent memorable days with the club’s youth teams, always offering encouragement, warmth and a personal touch.
Commisso remained active until his final days, continuing to dedicate himself to his businesses, Mediacom and Fiorentina, and to planning for their future. His bond with Florence and its people extended beyond football, particularly during the Covid pandemic, when the “Forza e Cuore” campaign channelled significant donations to local hospitals.
One of his lasting legacies is the Rocco B. Commisso Viola Park, the club’s state-of-the-art training and youth development centre, which now stands as a permanent symbol of his vision and commitment to the future generations of the club. Under his presidency, Fiorentina reached two UEFA Europa Conference League finals and a Coppa Italia final, while also enjoying notable success at the youth level.
The Commisso family concluded their message by thanking everyone who stood by them during this difficult time, expressing confidence that Rocco Commisso’s memory will live on in the hearts of Fiorentina’s staff, players, supporters and, above all, the young athletes who will continue to represent the club’s colours in Italy and around the world.
